Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has credited Jurgen Klopp with helping him to become one of the world's most dangerous strikers.
Aubameyang, 26, has been in unstoppable form in his third season in Germany, scoring 33 goals in all competitions so far.
The Gabon international, who was on target in a 3-0 Europa League round-of-16 win over Tottenham last week, was brought in from French club St Etienne when Liverpool boss Klopp was still in charge of Dortmund.
Aubameyang registered 29 league goals in two seasons working under Klopp and he says his guidance paved the way for him to flourish even more under current Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel.
"Klopp brought me a lot," Aubameyang told France Football. "He gave me strength of character and made me develop defensively. The two years I spent with him were very useful to help me step up a level. He's someone charismatic and I have a lot of respect for this man.
"He often asked me to go and discuss things with him -- when things weren't going as well but also when they were going well.
"It's good to have a coach who speaks to you, who gives his opinion and knows how to advise you.
"He's one of the three managers who gave me the chance to become who I am today along with [St Etienne's] Christophe Galtier and Thomas Tuchel, who's also in the process of making me reach another milestone."
Dortmund are currently five points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and Aubameyang says he has not given up hope of preventing Pep Guardiola's side from becoming German champions for the fourth year in a row.
The reigning African Player of the Year has once again been linked with Real Madrid in recent weeks, although he has rejected claims that a deal has been agreed.
However, Aubameyang admitted that he could end up leaving Dortmund if he reaches his aim of matching Gerd Muller's single-season Bundesliga scoring record.
The former AC Milan player has 22 league goals this season and has eight games left to equal former Bayern Munich striker Muller's total of 40 from the 1971-72 season.
When France Football pointed out that it would be hard for Dortmund to keep him if he reaches that goal, Aubameyang said: "I know.
"I'm linked to Dortmund until 2020. I extended my contract during the pre-season training camp.
"There were requests [from other clubs] but my goal was to stay. Next summer, I don't know. Things go really quickly in football."