Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp spent nine years as Liverpool manager and established himself in legendary status.
Jurgen Klopp is in talks over a potential return to management, it has been claimed.
The German declared that he did not envisage a return to professional coaching after leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season. Klopp spent nine years at the Anfield helm and engineered the Reds’ return to the European elite.
Seven major trophies were won during his tenure, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League the following season. Many fans regard only Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley above Klopp in terms of the greatest managers in Liverpool history.
After his Anfield exit, Klopp took up a role with Red Bull as their head of global soccer. He works with RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and more clubs under the ownership group’s umbrella.
The 58-year-old has been heavily linked with taking up the role at Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso was sacked in January after little more than six months in charge. Those suggestions have been played down - although it has been claimed that Klopp could join Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Spanish TV show El Chiringuito have reported that Klopp is in advanced negotiations over succeeding long-time head coach Diego Simeone at the end of the campaign. It’s suggested that Mark Rowan, the CEO of Atletico majority shareholders Apollo, is taking charge of negotiations.
Journalist Pipi Estrada said (via Fichajes): “It's a transfer that's under negotiation. The signature is still pending; they've been negotiating for several days. This transfer wasn't handled by Atlético Madrid's sporting director; Berta hasn't had a hand in it, nor has Bucero, nor Miguel Ángel Gil Marín.
“This is a negotiation being handled specifically and personally by the CEO of Apollo, Mark Rowan… This coach told the CEO: 'I like Atlético Madrid's profile.' This gentleman's name is Jürgen Klopp. It's a perfect fit. Besides, he's leaving Red Bull, and he likes Atlético Madrid. But he's not negotiating with Atlético's sporting director; he's negotiating directly with the CEO, the one with the money.
“The biggest thing about this is that Apollo, the new owners of the club, have decided, no matter what, that Simeone won't stay. That's the headline. If they're negotiating with Klopp, it's because they know Simeone is leaving.”
Klopp has been linked with a potential exit from his Red Bull role and could be replaced by Oliver Glasner, who will depart as Crystal Palace’s head coach at the end of the campaign. Those claims were played down, however. "This is total nonsense and completely unfounded. On the contrary, we are extremely satisfied with Jürgen Klopp's work," Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO corporate projects and investments. “We are convinced that he is the right man for this job. That's where we are putting our full focus and our energy."
Klopp has also been touted as a potential future manager of Germany when Julian Nagelsmann leaves his post.
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