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Jurgen Klopp has insisted he has no plans to return to club management over a year after leaving Liverpool.
The German spent nine years at Anfield, having previously coached Borussia Dortmund and Mainz. He established himself as one of the elite managers on the globe and led Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League success.
But Klopp announced in January 2024 that he planned to leave the Reds, citing exhaustion as the main factor. He has since taken up a role as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer and claimed he has no regrets about walking away from the day-to-day role.
The 58-year-old has previously said he has not ruled out ever returning to management, but in a recent interview with The Athletic, Klopp stated that he does not “miss anything” about being on the training pitch and dugout and implied that his coaching career is completely behind him now.
Asked if he has been waiting to watch games during his time away from Liverpool, Klopp replied bluntly. “Not. At. All.
“I was super happy with the way Liverpool performed. I watched some games. But it is not like, ‘Oh, it’s Saturday.’
“I didn’t know when games started. I was just out. I played sports. We enjoyed life, spent time with the grandkids, completely normal stuff, knowing I will work again. But knowing as well, that I don’t want to work as a coach anymore.”
Pushed on whether he has completely walked away from the profession, Klopp responded: “That’s what I think.
“But you don’t know. I’m 58. If I started again at 65, everybody will say, ‘You said you’ll never do it again.’
“Er, sorry, I thought 100 per cent (when I said it). That is what I think now. I don’t miss anything.”
In Klopp’s new role, he oversees the soccer operations at Red Bull’s portfolio of clubs, which includes RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls. The energy drink giant also owns shares in Leeds United.
Klopp faced backlash from fans in Germany over his decision to join Red Bull, particularly given he had condemned multi-club ownership in the past.
But the ex-Liverpool coach defended that choice during his interview with The Athletic.
“I’m German. I know what people in Germany think about the involvement of Red Bull in football. They love Red Bull. In all departments. But in football? No. So whatever, they want to do it that way.
“Funnily enough, it was only in Germany where the reaction was like that. But that’s fine — no problem. Everybody can think what they want. You just have to accept that I do what I want as long as I don’t hurt anybody.”
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