Six managers who’ve never been sacked – as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool future looks unclear

On Feb 5, 2023

Jurgen Klopp could lose his record of never being sacked as his future at Liverpool continues to be unclear.

The German manager has not been dismissed during his managerial career, having previously managed Mainz and Borussia Dortmund before taking over at Anfield in 2015. Saturday’s shock 3-0 loss away to Wolverhampton Wanderers leaves the Reds 10th in the Premier League, 11 points adrift of the top four.

With Klopp at risk of losing his job, Daily Star Sport looks at six managers who have never been sacked during their coaching careers, including a World Cup winner and a four-time Premier League champion.

Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola’s trophy-laden managerial career has seen the Spaniard claim league titles in Spain, Germany and England as well as two Champions League triumphs.

After making a successful start to coaching with Barcelona B, Guardiola was promoted to first-team manager in 2008 and remained at the helm for four years. Having taken a year-long sabbatical, he took over at Bayern Munich in 2013.

Having decided to leave Germany at the end of his contract in 2016, Guardiola immediately returned to management with Manchester City and has continued to win trophies in England, despite not tasting glory in Europe since 2011.

Jurgen Klopp

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Despite his recent woes at Liverpool, Klopp has yet to be sacked during his managerial career, which began with Mainz in his native Germany.

He guided the club into the Bundesliga during his seven years with Mainz, before departing for Dortmund in 2008. Having won the title twice and reached a Champions League final, Klopp resigned at the end of the 2014/15 season.

After a brief break from management, Klopp was appointed Liverpool boss in October 2015 and is now into his seventh full season at Anfield.

Didier Deschamps

Didier Deschamps has been France manager since 2012 and is set to remain at the helm until after the 2026 World Cup after recently extending his contract.

A World Cup winner with Les Bleus in 2018, Deschamps has reached three finals in the five major tournaments he has coached at.

Prior to becoming national team boss, Deschamps had spells in charge of Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, but was not sacked from any of the roles, instead resigning from both Monaco and Juventus rather than being dismissed.

Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone began his managerial career with Racing Club in his native Argentina and later had spells with Estudiantes, River Plate, San Lorenzo and Catania before a second stint at Racing.

He was then appointed Atletico Madrid boss in 2011 and has gone on to enjoy a successful tenure in the Spanish capital, having had two spells with the club as a player.

Despite repeated links to a Premier League job, Simeone has remained Atletico boss for the last 12 years, winning both La Liga and the Europa League on two separate occasions.

Zinedine Zidane

Similarly to Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane was handed his start in management with the second team of one of his former clubs by managing Real Madrid Castilla for two years between 2014 and 2016.

His results with the team earned him the senior Real Madrid job midway through the 2015/16 season and Zidane went on to win the Champions League three times before stepping down in 2018.

Zidane returned for a second spell less than a year later and won a league title in 2020 before standing down once again a year later. The Frenchman remains without a club two years on.

Julian Nagelsmann

One of European football’s youngest and most promising managers, Julian Nagelsmann was just 28 when he was appointed Hoffenheim boss in 2016.

Two top four finishes in three seasons earned Nagelsmann the RB Leipzig job in 2019 and he would go on to make the club regulars in the Champions League.

Nagelsmann was again headhunted in 2021 as he replaced Hansi Flick as Bayern Munich manager before winning the league title in his first season at the helm.