Jurgen Klopp's agent has revealed the former Liverpool boss was approached by Manchester United and Chelsea after leaving Anfield
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp(Image: Ronny HARTMANN / AFP via Getty Images)
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Jurgen Klopp's agent has revealed both Manchester United and Chelsea made approaches for the former Liverpool boss following his departure from Anfield. And Bayern Munich failed in an attempt to lure Klopp away from the Reds when they were Champions League winners and on their way to lifting the Premier League.
Klopp stepped away from the dugout when he ended a nine-year stint in charge at Liverpool in May 2024, instead beginning his current role as Red Bull's Head of Global Football the following January.
Nevertheless, the 58-year-old continues to be linked with high-profile vacant managerial roles, the most recent of which saw him touted as a possible replacement for the sacked Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid before former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa was appointed interim head coach.
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And while playing down suggestions Klopp could again become a manager, his long-time agent Marc Kosicke has detailed how Liverpool's Premier League rivals wanted the services of the Anfield legend.
Asked about his client returning to the dugout, Kosicke said: "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.
"Jurgen has undergone a metamorphosis, moving away from being a coach with a broad perspective towards more management responsibilities."
In an exclusive interview with Transfermarkt, Kosicke also discussed an approach from Bayern while Klopp was at the height of his powers at Liverpool.
"Bayern came very close to signing us twice," he said. "Once in 2008: Uli Hoeness wanted Jurgen Klopp, but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge wanted Jurgen Klinsmann.
"And after Niko Kovac (who was sacked in November 2019), when Jurgen was at Liverpool, they approached us again. Nobody thought things would be so successful with (eventual Bayern boss) Hansi Flick. There just wasn't the right momentum."
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