Jurgen Klopp Tipped to Make U-Turn on Job He Said He Wouldn't Take

A former Liverpool player has tipped Jurgen Klopp to take his first step into international management with a role he previously distanced himself from.

To the surprise of many, Klopp decided to step down from his post as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023-24 season because he was "running out of energy" following an intense campaign.

Ironically, the German was soon announced as the Head of Global Soccer at energy drinks company Red Bull, overseeing their international network of clubs, which include RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg.

Klopp, who began his coaching career with Mainz 05 in 2001, also supports the organisation’s global scouting operation and contributes to the training and development of coaches.

The 58-year-old has since been linked with a return to management on numerous occasions, with Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad putting Klopp 'at the forefront of their options' earlier this year.

Klopp holds a senior strategic football role with energy drinks giant Red Bull. Image credit: Getty

One role Klopp has distanced himself from in the past is the England national team job.

Shortly after Gareth Southgate resigned from his post following eight years in charge, the former Borussia Dortmund boss was asked whether he would be interested in being England’s next manager.

"That would be the biggest loss of face in the history of football if I said, 'I’ll make an exception for you’,” replied Klopp.

Despite this statement, former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has claimed Klopp would "love" the England job as he predicted the German's next move in football.

"If he does come back, I think he'll come back as a national team manager somewhere," Riise told Casinostugan.

"I don't think he's going to be a manager for a club. I think he would love the England job at one stage. But I see him as a national team manager because that's not as intense as being a club manager."

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Riise also spoke about how the Liverpool job impacted Klopp.

"Jurgen Klopp loves life, he loves what he's doing, he has passion for whatever he's doing," Riise continued. "I would love to see him back, obviously, because of the energy and who he is, but at the same time, his legacy now is high.

"He's done so well for Dortmund and for Liverpool, and I can't see that he can do even better at another club. So he might just be happy that 'I'm there now and I did what I did' and do other things.

"But anyway, I do think his job at Liverpool cost him a lot, he was mentally and physically drained because he put everything he had into that job, basically all his energy."