Manchester United and Chelsea have issued a response to claims by Jurgen Klopp’s agent that they offered the former Liverpool boss the managerial position
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have strongly denied making offers to Jurgen Klopp for the managerial role. Marc Kosicke, Klopp’s agent, stirred up a media storm on Monday when he claimed that both clubs had expressed interest in the former Liverpool manager following his departure from Anfield.
Kosicke also suggested that Klopp could have taken the reins of the England team in 2024 after Gareth Southgate stepped down. However, the 58-year-old chose to step back from coaching and took up the position of Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer last year.
In a chat with Transfermarkt, Kosicke said: “Before joining Red Bull, Jurgen could have coached the United States or England. Probably also Germany, if Julian Nagelsmann hadn’t already been there. Even Chelsea and Manchester United inquired, although Jurgen had clearly stated that he would not coach any other club in England.”
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Contrary to these claims, the Manchester Evening News reports that United have refuted any approach to Klopp, either directly or through his agent. Similarly, Chelsea has reportedly issued a denial to the Press Association.
Regardless of the truth of these alleged approaches, Klopp wouldn’t have been interested. The former Borussia Dortmund and Mainz boss recently declared on the Diary of a CEO podcast: “I said I will never coach a different team in England.
“So that means if [I return] it’s Liverpool. So yeah, theoretically it’s possible. I love what I do right now, I don’t miss coaching. I don’t. I mean I do coach, just different, not players.
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“And I don’t miss it. I don’t miss standing in the rain two-and-a-half, three hours. I don’t miss going to press conference three times a week, having 10-12 interviews a week. I don’t miss that.”
His representative also confirmed that the offers haven’t ceased. “These inquiries keep coming,” added Kosicke. “He’s extremely happy with what he’s achieved. And it’s still wonderful to go down in history as one of the few coaches who only managed three clubs and were never fired.”
Recently, Klopp has been rumoured to be in the running for the managerial position at Real Madrid. However, the Anfield legend doesn’t anticipate returning to the touchline next season.
“I don’t expect to change my mind, but I don’t know,” said Klopp. “We’re building a house right now and my missus wanted to have a really big trophy room.
“There was another small room and I said, ‘This is enough because we know how many trophies we have, we will not add any.’ It might sound arrogant, but I know I can coach a football team. But I don’t need to do it until my last day.”