Jurgen Klopp has turned down the Germany job before, but his agent has admitted that next time he might not be able to resist the call.
Klopp is a fiercely loyal man and that is part of the reason why he is so adored at each of his former clubs, Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and, of course, Liverpool.
Such was his commitment to the Reds that he actually turned down the opportunity to manage his country when he was approached in 2023.
Instead, he chose to stay at Liverpool to rebuild the team after a fifth-place finish, bringing in Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo ahead of his final season in which the Reds pushed for the league and won the Carabao Cup.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, December 26, 2023: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp celebrates after the FA Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC at Turf Moor. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
By the time Klopp left the following summer, Julian Nagelsmann had succeeded Hansi Flick as manager of Die Mannschaft and the chance had gone.
If the job were to be offered again, though, Klopp would find it hard to turn down despite having stepped back from management, instead taking on the role of Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull.
Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke, told Transfermarkt: “Jurgen feels very connected to this country. The question doesn’t even arise at the moment.
“I don’t think he feels he has to do it at least once. Rather, he feels a sense of obligation, that he couldn’t always say no to the job.”
Nagelsmann’s contract with the German national team runs until 2028, but a disappointing World Cup always has the potential to bring forward managerial changes.
“Before joining Red Bull, Jurgen could have coached the USA or England,” Kosicke added.
“Probably Germany too, 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.”
Asked if Klopp, who has won nine major trophies, would feel his career was incomplete if he never managed his country, the 58-year-old’s agent replied: “Jurgen said relatively early on that he could have been a fantastic coach without ever having managed Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
“He desperately wanted to win the Champions League, but he didn’t think winning it three times would make him any better or happier.
“He’s incredibly happy with what he’s achieved and it’s still wonderful to go down in history as one of the few coaches who only managed three clubs and were never fired.”