Jurgen Klopp's thoughts on coaching Liverpool rival after Man Utd, Chelsea links

The comments from Klopp's agent, Marc Kosicke, resulted in widespread media speculation on Monday, but the former Liverpool coach has already made his feelings clear on a Premier League return

Jürgen Klopp has already made his feelings clear on the possibility of managing Manchester United or Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)

Monday’s revelation that Manchester United and Chelsea both approached Jurgen Klopp about the possibility of taking over as head coach since his departure from Liverpool set off a media firestorm.

Inevitably, it led to speculation about how such a set-up at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge would have looked in practice and what it may have meant for Klopp himself. But in reality, there was no chance of him taking over one of Liverpool’s great rivals.

The German all but said so himself when he made his appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast. Asked if he could ever return the dugout one day, Klopp responded: “I said I will never coach a different team in England so that means, if [I did return], then it's Liverpool.

“So, yeah, theoretically it is possible [to manage Liverpool].”

Those comments indicate how strong Klopp’s bond with Anfield remains, and why moving to a rival was never even considered.

Klopp took up a role as Red Bull’s Head of Soccer last year, a position that sees him manage the organisation’s portfolio of clubs, which includes Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

But given the nature of his coaching career, the 58-year-old continues to be linked with a return to management.

Klopp was linked with a role at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)

Klopp’s agent Marc Kosicke said in an interview with Transfermarkt that Klopp has received several inquiries since departing Liverpool in 2024.

“At the moment, I don't see that happening, because he's very happy with his new role and in this environment.

"Maybe at some point he'll say he needs to smell the locker room again. But at the moment, he's very, very happy in his role.

“Before joining Red Bull, Jurgen could have coached the USA or England national teams. Probably also Germany, if Julian Nagelsmann hadn't already been there.

“Even Chelsea and Manchester United inquired, although Jurgen had clearly stated that he would not coach any other club in England. These inquiries haven't stopped.

Klopp has indicated he has no plans to return to club coaching(Image: Getty Images)

“Jurgen has undergone a metamorphosis, moving away from being a coach with a broad perspective towards more management responsibilities.”

Both Chelsea and Manchester United have strongly denied making an approach for Klopp to the Press Association. Klopp has repeatedly said he has no plans to return to club management and is enjoying the freedom his new role provides.

However, he has not fully ruled it out. “I'm in a place, as a person, where I'm completely at peace with where I am. I don't want to be somewhere else,” the former Liverpool head coach told AFP last month.

"Do I want to coach again? At the moment, I would say no, but I cannot say never, never, never. I don't expect to change my mind, but I don't know."