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Despite Jurgen Klopp's firm stance that he has no intentions of returning to management, the former Liverpool manager has been backed for a potential comeback.
Following a triumphant nine-year tenure at Anfield, which concluded after the 2023-24 season, Klopp assumed the position of Head of Global Soccer with the Red Bull organization in January 2025. Additionally, he recently joined a specialist panel with the German Football League (DFL) focused on improving the country's soccer landscape.
Klopp has also confirmed his plans to work as a pundit for the 2026 World Cup across Canada, Mexico and the United States, having agreed terms with Magenta TV.
While he has hinted at a possible return to the touchline, he swiftly dismissed any speculation regarding a managerial comeback.
Nevertheless, Bayern Munich's honorary president Uli Hoeness remains convinced that Klopp will eventually return to his coaching origins, questioning the German's long-term dedication to the Red Bull project.
"I could never imagine him as an official who travels around the country, to New York, and looks after the different teams," Hoeness told OMR Podcast, as reported by Tagesspiegel. "And I don't think that will be a good model in the long run.
"I also don't think he'll do that forever, I can't imagine it. I have always admired Jurgen Klopp as a coach who is on the pitch, who develops a team, who moves a team forward with his personality. I see Jurgen Klopp on the pitch and nowhere else."
Last month, Klopp sparked rumours when he didn't entirely rule out the possibility of a return to Liverpool's managerial role, especially given the Reds' current struggles under Arne Slot.
"I said I will never coach a different team in England," he said on the Diary of a CEO podcast. "So that means if it's Liverpool, yeah. So yeah, theoretically it's possible."
However, in the same interview, he stressed that he doesn't crave a managerial position and is satisfied with his role at the Red Bull Group. Klopp also shared his true feelings - and hesitations - about potentially returning to a former club.
This came up while discussing his decision to reject Manchester United's advances before joining Liverpool, as he evaluated the Red Devils' choices to re-sign both Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"It's difficult, we're not in a private space, but there are some reasons, but the people in that conversation that I didn't like," he said. "So, United was that big, 'We get all the players we want, we get him, we get him, we get him' - and I was sitting there like, 'Huh?'
"It was not my project, it didn't feel like my project, it was the wrong time, but on top of that, it was not my project. I didn't want to bring back Pogba, Pogba is a sensational player, my god, but these things don't work, usually.
"Or Cristiano. My god, we all know he's the best player in the world, together with [Lionel] Messi. Bringing him back never helps."
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