Jurgen Klopp’s agent has confirmed that the former Liverpool manager was contacted by two of the club’s biggest rivals after he left Anfield.
Klopp stepped down in 2024 following nearly ten years in charge, a period in which he revived Liverpool’s success and built a strong bond with supporters.
The 58-year-old moved away from frontline coaching to become Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull, a role he has held for the past 13 months.
He is also set to make a short return to Merseyside as Sir Kenny Dalglish’s assistant for the Liverpool Legends match against Borussia Dortmund on 28 March.
Klopp was contacted by Manchester United and Chelsea
Speaking to Transfermarkt, Klopp’s agent Marc Kosicke revealed that both Chelsea and Manchester United made enquiries about him after his Liverpool exit, and interest has continued.
Kosicke explained that before joining Red Bull, Klopp had opportunities to manage the USA or England national teams — and possibly Germany as well if Julian Nagelsmann had not already taken the role.
He added that Chelsea and Manchester United also reached out, despite Klopp making it clear he would not manage another English club.
Klopp had no intention of joining a rival
As his agent pointed out, Klopp was firm in his stance that he would not return to management with another club in England. That made any approach from Chelsea or Manchester United highly unlikely to succeed.
Given his deep connection with Liverpool, it was always hard to imagine him taking charge of a domestic rival, particularly clubs with such strong competition history.
While some players have moved between Liverpool and those teams, Klopp would have known that joining a direct rival after leaving Anfield could have damaged the legacy he built.
For now, he appears content in his current role away from the pressure of day-to-day management. Although he could one day return to coaching — perhaps at international level — there is no sign of that happening soon.
By turning down interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, Klopp has ensured he remains highly respected and admired by Liverpool supporters.
