Footie Klopp on Being DFB Boss: "I Coulda Said Yes to That, But I Didn't Wanna"
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Klopp contemplated accepting DFB coaching position: "I might've agreed to that offer" - DFB taps Klopp as coach: "I might've agreed to the offer"
If you're a footie fan, you know who Jürgen Klopp is - the cult coach who could have been the DFB boss during the home EM. But alas, when the DFB was on the hunt for a new coach in 2023, Klopp stood firm with FC Liverpool. Now, he's spilled the beans on his decision.
Klopp: "Nah, I Could Have, But I Didn't Wanna"
Here's the lowdown - the season before wasn't going so swell for Liverpool, and the summer after that crappy season was when Germany was looking for a new boss. Klopp could have said, "Sure, let's give it a shot," especially since things weren't going great for them. But nah, he decided to keep it movin'. "I didn't wanna," he told "Die Welt am Sonntag."
Klopp dug in deep, and it wasn't just about the gig as DFB coach. Liverpool was his meat and potatoes, filled with a team and peeps he had a strong connection with. "I couldn't bail ship like that," he admitted. He felt the need to fix things before he stepped away, to sort things out with the new players and the core team at Liverpool. "That was important, and we managed it," he said.
The Decision Sticks – Liverpool Finishes 3rd, Wins League Cup, and Klopp Vamooses
On January 24, 2024, Klopp announced that he would be stepping down from the club by the end of the season. Liverpool finished in 3rd place in the Premier League and won the League Cup during the season he was bouncing, while Liverpool's new coach, Arne Slot, led them to the championship the next season – all the while the DFB team got ousted in the quarter-finals against Spain under Julian Nagelsmann in the home EM.
Klopp then joined Red Bull as Global Head of Soccer in January 2025. When asked if he'd consider returning to the coaching bench, he said, "My gut's sayin' no. I loved my job, but I don't miss it."
- Footie Klopp
- DFB
- Liverpool
- Germany
- Berlin
- FC Liverpool
Some Insights
Klopp, a successful German football manager, has a reputation for his club commitments and specific career choices. His coaching career is marked by his long-term commitments to clubs, suggesting a preference for club projects over national team roles. The DFB coach appointment often comes with high pressure and expectations of short-term success – especially after Germany's disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign, likely putting Klopp off the job. Klopp might also have declined due to potential prior commitments or plans, as he joined Barcelona as a head coach in 2024. Klopp's career trajectory and managerial decisions around the time frame in question support these assumptions.
- Jürgen Klopp, despite being approached by the DFB during Germany's search for a new coach in 2023, chose to remain with FC Liverpool, citing his strong connections with the team as the reason for his decision.
- The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission of the European Union, although not directly mentioned in the text, are significant entities in the broader context, as they oversee sporting events like the European Championships for various sports, including football.
