Jurgen Klopp has made it clear that any club wishing to secure his services must prioritise football over commercial interests. The 58-year-old, who left Liverpool in 2024 after nearly nine years, has been linked with a return to management but insists he will not join a club where marketing and image take precedence.
Speaking in 2018, Klopp explained why he chose Liverpool over other suitors: 'It is a football club. A FOOTBALL club. I had talks with other clubs and they didn't sound like a football club. It sounded like marketing, image, you need to sign this, you need to sign that.' He added that Liverpool's balance of history and financial needs appealed to him.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler revealed in 2019 that Klopp had turned down approaches from Manchester United and Real Madrid after leaving Borussia Dortmund. Fowler said: 'He hated how they were focused solely on commercial influences. He said he liked Liverpool because they had a balance between the money needed to reach the top and the history and identity of the club and their fans.'
Klopp currently serves as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer and has ruled out managing another English club. In 2024, he stated: '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.'
