Jurgen Klopp's Manchester United Approaches and Contract Incident Revealed
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has opened up about Manchester United's past attempts to recruit him, including a bizarre contract incident during his time at Anfield. The German tactician, now Red Bull's head of global soccer, detailed approaches from United in 2013 and 2014, which ultimately did not materialise into a managerial role at Old Trafford.
United's Persistent Interest in Klopp
Klopp confirmed that Manchester United expressed interest in him twice, first in 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and again in 2014 during David Moyes's struggles. In a 2025 podcast interview, Klopp stated, "In the year when Sir Alex retired, they spoke to me. Of course, they were interested. At that time, I would've been interested - I was young, I had a sensational team at Dortmund." However, he believed the timing was wrong, citing his commitment to Borussia Dortmund and reservations about United's project vision.
According to a 2017 biography, United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward flew to Germany to meet Klopp in 2014, pitching Old Trafford as "an adult version of Disneyland." Klopp found the sales pitch "unsexy" but did not immediately dismiss the opportunity. Despite these efforts, no deal was reached, and Klopp later joined Liverpool, where he achieved Premier League and Champions League success over nearly nine years.
Fake Contract Incident at Liverpool Press Conference
In a curious episode, Klopp was presented with a Manchester United contract at the start of a Liverpool press conference in 2024, following an FA Cup quarter-final match. The document was later revealed to be a fake contract signed by YouTuber IShowSpeed during a tour of Old Trafford. Klopp appeared bewildered by the incident, which highlighted the ongoing speculation linking him to United even during his Liverpool tenure.
Klopp's agent, Marc Kosicke, has since claimed that both Manchester United and Chelsea approached Klopp after his departure from Liverpool in 2024, though both clubs denied these assertions. This adds to the narrative of United's long-standing interest in the manager, despite his clear allegiance to Liverpool.
Klopp's Commitment to Liverpool and Future Plans
Klopp has firmly ruled out managing any other English club besides Liverpool, stating in January 2024, "I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That's not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big." He attributed his decision to leave Liverpool to a lack of energy but emphasised his enduring connection to the club.
Red Bull has recently dismissed rumours of dissatisfaction with Klopp's performance in his current role, quelling speculation about his future. Should Klopp return to management, his exclusion of English clubs leaves Manchester United to reflect on what might have been, as they continue their search for a permanent boss.
Klopp's managerial record against Manchester United includes seven wins and nine draws in 21 matches, underscoring the competitive rivalry that defined his time in England. His revelations shed light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations and missed opportunities that have shaped his career and United's managerial history.
