Channel 4 Commissions Whisper to Make Champions League Documentary

28 May 2019

Channel 4 has commissioned Whisper Films to make a fast-turnaround documentary focusing on two leading football managers, Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool FC and Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham Hotspur, ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final this Saturday, 1 June. 

Against all the odds, Klopp and Pochettino have guided the two English clubs through the most dramatic Champions League competition in living memory, to the final showdown in Madrid, Spain.

Titled ‘Klopp vs Poch – Battle of the Supermanagers’, the insightful documentary will preview the hotly anticipated final with an in-depth look at two of the World’s leading football managers and aims to feature fascinating opinions from a raft of football personalities, such as John Barnes, Jermaine Jenas, Steven Gerrard, Jurgen Klinsmann, Glenn Hoddle, Gabby Logan, Les Ferdinand, Neil Ruddock, Matthew Syed and Chelcee Grimes.

Featuring interviews with a host of managers, players, fans and club legends, the documentary will look at how the German and Argentine managers have gained cult status at their clubs through their unique methods and management techniques.

The one hour documentary will shine a light on what makes both men tick and, in an era of managerial mind games in football, reveal how these two managers have achieved success on football’s biggest stage, where others have failed.

The documentary was commissioned by Channel 4’s Head of Specialist Factual, Fatima Salaria, who commented:

“On eve of a seminal final that sees European football dominated by two remarkable English clubs, this programme takes the opportunity to examine the art of the manager in the modern game. Who are these hugely charismatic and influential executives who are able to make millions for their employers and transform lives of fans through success on the pitch? How do these two very distinct personalities and coaching styles get the very best from their players?”

Whisper Films CEO, Sunil Patel, said: ‘It’s fantastic to be producing something associated with such a huge sporting moment and to be uncovering unique insights about the two central characters. It’s a fascinating subject; story-telling is an intrinsic part of we do and we feel privileged to have the opportunity to tell the story of Klopp vs Pochettino, two world-renowned sporting managers.”

The documentary airs at 10pm on Thursday 30 May on Channel 4.

This latest specialist factual commission for Whisper follows its documentary for Channel 5 The Feud: Ferguson vs Wenger, which received favourable reviews; two further commissions in that series will transmit later this year.

Whisper’s current sports and live events portfolio includes Formula 1, Rugby World Cup, Women’s Six Nations, SailGP, W Series, Women’s Super League and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

ENDS