In a candid revelation, legendary former manager Jurgen Klopp has detailed the profound sense of duty that led him to reject an approach from the German national team in 2023, choosing instead to stay and rebuild at Liverpool.
The Season That Changed Everything
The 2022/23 campaign ended in disappointment for the Reds, with the team finishing a lowly fifth in the Premier League and consequently missing out on Champions League qualification. This failure set the stage for a pivotal moment in Klopp's career.
Speaking earlier this year, the now 58-year-old, who currently serves as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, admitted that the summer of 2023 presented a clear opportunity for a change. The German Football Association was seeking a new national coach, and Klopp was a prime candidate.
"I could have said 'yes' because it might have been better to do something different," Klopp told Welt. However, his conscience would not allow it. "I couldn't leave Liverpool like that," he stated emphatically.
A Bond Beyond Football
For Klopp, the decision was not a reflection on the prestige of the national team role but was rooted in his deep connections at Anfield. He felt a powerful obligation to the players, both new and old, and to the club's supporters.
"There was a team, there were people with whom I had a relationship," he explained. "I've never been so cold not to remember the good things I said to a player a week earlier."
He was particularly driven to rectify the situation with the squad he had helped assemble, which that summer had welcomed new signings like Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister. Klopp was determined to "fix it again" with this core group, a mission he felt was paramount.
The Inevitable Farewell
Despite successfully steering the team to a more competitive position, the seed of departure had been planted. Klopp shockingly announced in January 2024 that he would be leaving at the season's end, citing exhaustion as the primary reason.
He defended the timing of the public announcement, which was made at the owners' request. "For me it felt right," Klopp said, drawing parallels to his previous departures from Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.
Reflecting on his decision to step away from the managerial dugout after 1,081 competitive games and a 23-year career, Klopp was resolute. "I don't want it anymore," he stated, expressing contentment with his new, less all-consuming role at Red Bull, which allows for better life organisation and planning with his wife.
Anfield's Unfinished Business and Rumours of a Return
The shadow of Klopp's legacy looms large over Anfield, especially given the current struggles under his successor, Arne Slot. After a dream debut season that ended with a Premier League title, Slot's Liverpool has suffered a dramatic dip in form.
Despite a summer spend of around £450 million on fresh talent, the team recently suffered a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, marking their sixth loss in seven league games and leaving them languishing in 12th place.
This slump has inevitably sparked speculation about a potential return for the beloved German. While appearing on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp did not completely rule out a comeback, stating it was "theoretically possible", though he suggested it would unlikely be in a managerial capacity. For now, serious plans to sack Arne Slot are not believed to be in motion.
All eyes are now on Liverpool's upcoming fixtures: a Champions League clash against PSV at home on Wednesday, followed by a crucial Premier League trip to West Ham on Sunday.
