There are growing fears in Red Bull GmbH that Jürgen Klopp could leave his position as global head of football to take over as national team manager of Germany. – A position he has longed for throughout a long career.
Klopp sent shockwaves through the football world in early 2024 when he announced that his ninth year in charge of Liverpool would be his last on Merseyside.
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After a difficult period for the club, Klopp led the Reds to a total of eight titles, including the Champions League trophy in 2019 and the Premier League title the following season.
That extraordinary period of success cemented Klopp’s place among the most revered managers in Liverpool’s history, alongside names like Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.
Just five months after his last game in the Premier League, Klopp ended his sabbatical year to take on a role as global head of football for the Red Bull group, where he serves as an advisor and oversees their international network of clubs, including RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.
Klopp has kept his cards relatively close to his chest regarding potential plans in the distant future, and has repeatedly gone public and said that he would never let Liverpool down by managing another team in England.
The 58-year-old was heavily linked to the Real Madrid job when Xabi Alonso was released from his duties in the wake of the team’s loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
But Álvaro Arbeloa took over the helm from Alonso, and talk of Klopp entering the Bernabéu has “faded into the background”, according to German publication Bild.
It is claimed that an early termination of Klopp’s deal with Red Bull “has not yet been discussed”. In fact, there have been informal discussions about a possible contract extension.
However, the report suggests that it is an “open secret” that Red Bull are not overly happy with Klopp’s increasingly low profile, and it is said that the German attends matches and visits gyms less and less often.
However, Klopp has been spotted at a number of PR events, including the recent Winter Olympics in Italy, which has left others in Red Bull’s organizational hierarchy “wondering” about his future.
A quick return to club management is considered “out of the question” given the demanding day-to-day work such a job requires, which Klopp admitted played a big part in his decision to leave Liverpool two years ago.
But the prospect of Klopp succeeding Julian Nagelsmann as head coach of the German national team after this summer’s World Cup is considered “very conceivable”.
Klopp’s advisor Marc Kosicke has made no secret of the fact that the DFB (German Football Association) has made several requests, and even talked about the possibility if the chance should present itself at some point.
“I don’t think he feels like he has to do it at least once,” Kosicke told Transfermarkt last month.
“Rather, he feels an obligation, that he couldn’t always say no to the job.”
The report adds that although Nagelsmann’s deal with Germany does not expire until 2028, the idea of Klopp taking over the role before that date is considered “very likely” by a growing number at Red Bull.
Elsewhere in his interview with Transfermarkt, Kosicke sensationally claimed that both Chelsea and Manchester United made unsuccessful inquiries for Klopp after his client and close friend had left Anfield.
“Even Chelsea and Manchester United asked, even though Jurgen had clearly stated that he didn’t want to coach any other club in England. These inquiries keep coming,” Kosicke said.
“He is extremely happy with what he has achieved.
“It’s still fantastic to go down in history as one of the few coaches who has only managed three clubs and has never been sacked.”
According to Sky Sports, both Chelsea and Manchester United were quick to deny these claims.
In October, Klopp suggested that it was “theoretically possible” that he could one day return for a second spell with Liverpool when he was a guest on the podcast The Diary of a CEO.
“I said I would never coach another team, another team, in England,” Klopp told podcast host Steven Bartlett.
“So that means that if it’s Liverpool … Yes. Theoretically, it is possible.
“I’m 58, that means I could make the decision in a few years, I don’t know.
“Do I have to make the decision today? Then I don’t want to train again.
“But thank God I don’t have to. I can only see what the future holds.”
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