Jurgen Klopp’s agent Marc Kosicke has claimed that both Manchester United and Chelsea made approaches for the German manager following his departure from Liverpool.
Klopp stepped down in May 2024 after eight-and-a-half years in charge at Anfield, a period in which he ended Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the Premier League title.
Manchester United and Chelsea both denied they made any enquiry for Klopp when approached by The Athletic.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss enjoyed an extended break from football before taking up a role as Red Bull’s head of global soccer in January last year.
The 58-year-old coach made it clear when he left Liverpool that he would never manage another English club, but Kosicke claims it didn’t stop their rivals from testing that resolve.
Asked about the possibility of Klopp returning to management, Kosicke told Transfermarkt: “At the moment I don’t see that happening because he’s very happy with his new role and in this environment.
“Maybe at some point he’ll say he needs to smell the locker room again. But at the moment he’s very, very happy in his role. Before joining Red Bull, Jurgen could have coached the USA or England national teams. 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. These inquiries haven’t stopped.
“Jurgen has undergone a metamorphosis, moving away from being a coach with a broad perspective towards more management responsibilities.”
Both Chelsea and Manchester United have appointed new head coaches this season, with Liam Rosenior and Michael Carrick replacing Enzo Maresca and Ruben Amorim respectively in January.
Kosicke also claimed that Klopp snubbed the advances of Bayern Munich after Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2019. They were crowned Premier League champions the following season, as Bayern found success in Europe that year.
“Bayern came very close to signing us twice,” he added.
“Once in 2008. Uli Hoeness wanted Jurgen but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge wanted Jurgen Klinsmann.
“And after Niko Kovac (who left Bayern in November 2019), when Jurgen was at Liverpool, they approached us again. Nobody thought things would be so successful with Hansi Flick. There just wasn’t the right momentum.”