Manage England? Jürgen Klopp Put the Rumors to Rest
The former Liverpool manager was rumored to replace Gareth Southgate, but after his recent comments, his name should be crossed off the list.
German coach Jürgen Klopp, who managed Liverpool until last season, has ruled himself out as a potential replacement for Gareth Southgate as England's national team manager.
During a conversation at the international coaching congress in Würzburg (southern Germany), the Stuttgart-born coach stated that succeeding Southgate is "out of the question," according to the event organizers.
"It would be the biggest loss of prestige in football history if you said: 'I'll make an exception,'" he said regarding the possibility of interrupting the sabbatical he announced at the end of the season.
Klopp did hint, though without confirming, that he might return to coaching in the future, as he considers himself "too young to just play paddle and look after grandchildren": "Returning to coaching? Actually, I would rule it out at the moment. Let’s see how things are in a few months. For now, nothing is coming," he clarified.
Klopp’s Time at Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp's tenure at Liverpool, which began in October 2015, was transformative and highly successful. Known for his energetic and passionate approach, Klopp quickly instilled his philosophy of high pressing and relentless attacking play.
Klopp led Liverpool to the finals of the EFL Cup and Europa League in his first season. In the 2017-2018 season, Liverpool reached the Champions League final, and in 2018-2019, they won the Champions League by defeating Tottenham. That same season, Liverpool narrowly missed out on the Premier League title by one point.
The peak came in the 2019-2020 season when Liverpool won their first Premier League title in 30 years, finishing with 99 points. Klopp’s leadership turned players like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Virgil van Dijk into stars, fostering a strong team spirit and a deep connection with the fans.
Despite challenges such as injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic, Klopp’s Liverpool remained competitive, securing a top-four finish in the 2020-2021 season. Klopp’s legacy at Liverpool is defined by both the trophies won and the cultural revival he led at Anfield, solidifying his status as one of the club’s most influential managers.
