Jurgen Klopp has made it clear he will never manage Manchester United, despite public admiration from the club's co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The former Liverpool boss, who left Anfield in 2024, has repeatedly stated his loyalty to the Reds prevents any move to a rival English club.
Ratcliffe praised Klopp in March 2024, saying the German has 'this ability to drive his players to a frenzy' and 'total commitment on the pitch'. However, when asked if he might approach Klopp, Ratcliffe quickly dismissed the question, telling a reporter: 'You can't ask questions like that'.
Klopp himself has been unequivocal. When announcing his Liverpool exit, he said: 'What I know definitely – 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 also ruled out a return to management for at least a year, later taking a role as Red Bull's global head of soccer in 2025.
United did approach Klopp in 2013 as a potential successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, but he turned them down. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast in 2025, Klopp recalled: 'In the year when Sir Alex retired, they spoke to me. Of course, they were interested. At that time, I would've been interested... but it was the wrong time, wrong moment. I had a contract at Dortmund and wouldn't have left for anybody.' He added that some aspects of the conversation did not appeal to him, saying: 'The idea was that big – 'We get all the players we want' – and I was sitting there thinking, this is not my project.'
With Ruben Amorim sacked, United are now searching for a new manager, but Klopp's stance leaves him out of contention. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been mentioned as a possible candidate.
