In a heartwarming post, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to Springboks centurion Siya Kolisi.

The skipper celebrated his 100th cap at the Stade de France on Saturday, when the world champions beat the home side 32-17.

“Siya, my friend, another milestone in one of the most incredible sports careers I’ve ever heard of,” wrote Klopp on his official Instagram account.

“The thing I love in life the most is stories about people who made their way.

“Obviously, the most inspiring stories are the stories where the start was at the time when nobody could even imagine that a positive future was possible, and I think that’s your story. Calling you my friend is one of the biggest honours I can imagine. Having an idol in a sport I don’t understand at all is pretty special as well.

“Congratulations. One hundred – isn’t it crazy? And the best is still to come. Much love from Germany. See you,” added Klopp, who met Kolisi in Cape Town soon after South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph.

Furthermore, Klopp and Kolisi share a birthday, 16 June. “I’m a big fan, but he treats me like a friend,” said Kolisi in past interviews. “He’s such a good human being; his wife is amazing too.”

Kolisi grew up in Zwide, a township in Port Elizabeth (PE), and at the age of 12, he impressed scouts at a youth tournament in Mossel Bay and was offered a rugby scholarship at Grey Junior in PE.

He was only 15 when his mother passed away, and despite the early setbacks in his life, he went on to become a Boks great.

Kolisi made his national team debut as Springbok 851 on 15 June 2013, a day before his birthday, against Scotland at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit and became the first ever Black player to lead the Springboks in a Test match in the match against England at Ellis Park on 9 June 2018.

He is the most decorated South African captain, having won two World Cups back-to-back in 2019 in Japan and 2023 in France.