Widely regarded as one of Liverpool’s most iconic managers, Klopp led the club to their sixth European title and ended a 30-year wait for a league championship during a remarkable nine-year tenure. ..Continue Reading
He remains a beloved figure among Liverpool fans, but his career path could have taken a very different turn had discussions with arch-rivals United gone differently years ago.
In a recent interview with Steven Bartlett on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp was asked why he never became United’s manager despite their prestige and history.
He revealed that he had engaged in talks with United over a decade ago while still at Borussia Dortmund.
However, the experience left him unconvinced, as he felt the club’s emphasis on acquiring star players didn’t align with his preferred type of “project”.
Klopp explained: “They tried. It was the wrong moment, wrong time. I had a contract at Dortmund, I wouldn’t have left for nobody in that time.
“I was one of a few options I think. There are some reasons what the people in that conversation told me that I didn’t like.
“United was that big – we get all the players we want – we get him and we get him. I was sitting there and it was not my project.
“It was the wrong time but on top of that it didn’t feel like my project. I didn’t want to bring back Pogba – Paul is a sensational player but these things don’t work usually.
“Or Cristiano [Ronaldo] – my god we know that together with Messi he’s the best player in the world but bringing him back never helps.
“In that time, in 2013, it obviously wasn’t about Cristiano and maybe not Paul – I’m not even sure, I don’t have the numbers.
“But it was just the idea we bring the best players together and let’s go. And I sat there and I was like, ‘Nah, I’m not sure – that’s not for me’
“The pure football project comes up with Liverpool and in the end it was pretty special.”
Klopp accepted the Liverpool role in 2015 after Brendan Rodgers was dismissed, and he revitalized the club, building a squad that consistently challenged for top honors.
He captured every major trophy and left with a win rate of 60.9% before stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 season after “running out of energy”.
Now taking a break from coaching while serving as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, Klopp has made it clear he won’t manage another English club.
Still, he hasn’t ruled out a future return to Liverpool, potentially following the path of Kenny Dalglish.
“I said I will never coach a different team in England,” Klopp stated.
“That means that if it’s Liverpool, yeah. Theoretically. I don’t even know exactly [what it would take it to return]. I love what I’m doing right now.”
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