LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, wearing a 'Thank You Luv' hoodie, speaks to the fans following his final match as Liverpool manager after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on May 19, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 campaign
(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool's biggest rivals Manchester United should replace manager Ruben Amorim with adored former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, believes Martin Keown. The former Arsenal and England star says the 57-year-old German would do an 'incredible' job, forgetting that a final promise to the Anfield faithful would have to be broken in order to make this radical suggestion a reality.
Last week Klopp returned to the city he called home for nine years, partaking in Liverpool's Premier League title celebrations. With memories of past successes and even able to humbly take some credit for helping to build the squad passed on to successor Arne Slot, his name will go down in Reds folklore.
Klopp led Liverpool to Champions League success in 2019, the Premier League the year after and multiple domestic cup triumphs. He has said he will never manage another club in England.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE - Florian Wirtz bid rejected, Darwin Nunez doubt, Luis Diaz future
Yet Keown, speaking on talkSPORT, explained why Old Trafford chiefs should be fighting to land the former Liverpool boss.
"The number of games that they’ve lost, I’m still concerned that this [Amorim] isn’t the right manager for Manchester United," after the Portuguese took the job last November and ended the 2024/25 with a record of 17 wins, 17 losses and eight draws. His side completed their worst-ever Premier League campaign in 15th place.
So Keown suggests: "It’s going to be a very interesting start to the season, they could do a lot worse than go and get Jurgen Klopp to manage their football club.
"I’m not trying to sensationalise but I believe that he might do an incredible job there, they need someone there with more experience than the current manager.
"Why not? He’s done it once before, we’re comparing their journey now, he’s done it once before but with a better foundation."
Since leaving Liverpool, Klopp has taken a brief period of rest before stepping into an alternative role as Red Bull's global head of soccer. He helps to oversee their multi-club model.
In recent times he has been linked with taking over at Real Madrid or AS Roma and both instances were shot down by his agent almost instantly, citing happiness in his current situation.
But a more important reason why Klopp would never even open a letter from United bosses comes down to the final promise he made supporters when leaving Merseyside this time last year.
"What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 percent. That’s not possible," he explained.
"My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t.
"I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There’s no chance to do that.
"But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around."