Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp, speaks to the media ahead the Champions League Final against Tottenham in Madrid.
Jurgen Klopp could have joined Manchester United instead of Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp reportedly turned down a job with Manchester United after an intervention from his wife. The German tactician will go down in the annals of history as one of Liverpool's greatest-ever managers, leaving Anfield at the end of last season with five domestic cups, a Champions League and a Premier League title to his name.
However, the 57-year-old could have taken charge of the Red Devils instead, if it wasn't for other half Ulla Sandrock's advice. Back in 2019, Liverpool legend Phil Thompson claimed that United had once tried to bring Klopp to Old Trafford.
Speaking to TV2 in Norway, the 71-year-old, who played for the Reds between 1971 and 1984, said: "I interviewed Klopp for Sky, and I asked if he and Liverpool were created for each other. He looked at me and asked, 'Why?'
"Then Klopp told me he could have taken over Manchester United, but his wife said it wasn't right. When Liverpool arrived, his wife said it was right.
"There is something strange there. It is as if he's created for Liverpool." Elsewhere, Klopp himself has previously explained that he was approached by United in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
As per Sky Sports, Klopp was personally approached by Ferguson in the April of that year, only to turn down the legendary Scot, citing how he had already begun planning for the 2013/14 campaign with Borussia Dortmund. He previously said on matters: "We spoke.
"We spoke not a lot but, for me, it was a lot. It was a big honour, the whole talk, to be honest. But I could not leave Dortmund.
"You are in April and you are in the middle of the planning for next season. You have this player and this player who are coming but then you are not there anymore?
"That doesn't work. Not in my life. I didn't hear about a real offer [from United] but, if there was, I could not have done it. I first had to finish the job with Dortmund and then think about other things.
"Maybe that is not smart but that is my way. It was the same at Mainz." After kicking off his managerial career with Mainz in 2001, Klopp spent seven years with Dortmund between 2008 and 2015, winning two league titles and three domestic cups before replacing Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.
However, things could have panned out far differently should he have took up tenure with the Red Devils instead. United are now onto their sixth permanent manager since Ferguson's departure 12 years ago, with Ruben Amorim currently trying to achieve what David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag could not.
After taking the reins from Ten Hag in November, Amorim has failed to do much with his inherited squad in 2024/25, and as a result, United will secure their lowest-ever Premier League placement following Sunday's season finale with Aston Villa. It's a polar opposite state of affairs for Liverpool, who will lift their second Premier League title following their own clash with Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Arne Slot stepped in as Klopp's replacement ahead of 2024/25 and has gone on to mastermind a whirlwind maiden season with the Reds - culminating in them winning the league with four games to spare back in April thanks to a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham.