When Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in the summer of 2024, he was clear that he needed a break.
The intensity of nearly nine years at Anfield, not to mention seven before that at Borussia Dortmund, had taken its toll on the German. But football has a way of pulling people back in, and reports have now emerged that Klopp is in discussions over a new role in the game.
It won’t be a return to management, at least not immediately. But it does suggest that the man who won the Champions League, Premier League, and two Bundesliga titles isn’t quite done yet.
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Before the latest development, the 58-year-old's name had been swirling around some of the biggest jobs in world football. Real Madrid were frequently mentioned, with defeated presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme even going as far as to promise supporters he’d pursue Klopp if he got elected. This was the second time in less than a year Klopp's name had been mentioned, after Los Blancos had parted ways with now-Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso.
There was also brief speculation about a sensational return to Liverpool following the dismissal of Arne Slot, but the Reds eventually appointed former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraiola.
In his current role as Red Bull's Head of Global Football, Klopp oversees football operations across the energy drink manufacturer's network of clubs, RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and sides in Brazil, the USA and Japan. He’s contracted until 2029, but reports of internal fallouts have surfaced in recent months, which only adds to the speculation over him leaving.
Saudi Arabia Calling for Jurgen Klopp
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The talks in question are with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, and they’re reportedly more advanced than his camp would like to let on. According to Goal, Klopp's agent Marc Kosicke was dismissing the speculation outright, stating flatly that a move to the Saudi club was "out of the question" just a week ago. But Sky Sport’s transfer insider, Sacha Tavolieri, claims that discussions have resumed within the last 24 hours.
The role being discussed isn’t a managerial one. Al-Ittihad are understood to want Klopp as technical director, with oversight of the club's transfer strategy, rather than day-to-day coaching. Klopp has said multiple times that he won’t leave Red Bull until after the transfer window closes at least.
But unlike most European leagues, Saudi Arabia’s transfer window stays open until the 12th of October, meaning he could very easily make the switch and get straight to work recruiting for a club which has a budget bigger than most clubs in world football.
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Whether a deal eventually gets done is anyone's guess, but the fact that his own agent was shutting it down completely just days before talks apparently resumed tells its own story. In football, "out of the question" has a funny habit of becoming "done deal" faster than anyone expects, and Klopp's next chapter, be that in or out of management, may be closer to being written than it appears.