Former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has dismissed speculation linking him to the England head coach position, calling it “the biggest loss of face in the history of football” if he were to take the job.
Klopp, 57, left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine successful years. During his time with Liverpool, he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.
At the International Coaches’ Congress in Wurzburg, Germany, Klopp was asked about job offers.
He replied, “At the moment, there is nothing at all in terms of jobs. No club, no country.” He added, “England? That would be the biggest loss of face in the history of football if I said I’ll make an exception for you.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, another name linked to the England job, confirmed he has not been approached by the Football Association. “Absolutely no contact whatsoever from anybody – and I’m fully committed to Newcastle,” Howe said during Newcastle’s pre-season tour in Japan.
England’s first match after Gareth Southgate’s departure will be against the Republic of Ireland on September 7 in the UEFA Nations League. Other potential candidates for the England job include England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley, former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter, and Thomas Tuchel, who last managed Bayern Munich.
Klopp, who previously managed Borussia Dortmund for seven years before joining Liverpool in 2015, did not rule out returning to coaching in the future. He said, “Let’s see what it will look like in a few months. Nothing is coming through at the moment.” He continued, “As of today, that’s it for me as a coach. I didn’t quit on a whim, it was a general decision.”
Klopp expressed his desire to remain involved in football, saying, “I still want to work in football and help people with my experience and contacts. Let’s see what else there is for me.”
Liverpool has appointed Feyenoord boss Arne Slot as Klopp’s successor.
