But he will now be in charge until the culmination of the 2026 World Cup. And the development seemingly dismisses the notion of Klopp, who took charge of the Reds in a European game for the final time on Thursday night, taking over the national side within the next 12 months.
After leaving Liverpool fans stunned in January by confirming his eight-and-a-half year tenure would end this summer, Klopp vowed to take at least a year out of the game before contemplating another job in football. “I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible,” he said. “I cannot do that and I don’t want to.”
He’d been widely touted for the Germany job, with suggestions the authorities would opt for an interim boss after Euro 2024 until the 56-year-old became available. But waiting two years for the role appears unlikely given Klopp himself hinted at potential retirement last month.
Julian Nagelsmann has extended his deal with the German FA. (Image: Getty)
"If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say for now no,” he admitted. “But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I have never had the situation.”
The other obvious job for Klopp once he returns to his homeland would appear to be Bayern Munich, with the German giants yet to finalise a new manager for the 2024/25 campaign. Despite leading the club to the semi-finals of the Champions League, Thomas Tuchel will depart in the summer, and primary target Xabi Alonso has committed himself to another year with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi is now in the frame, while Flick has been tenuously linked with a return after taking the club to European Cup glory in 2020. Any hopes of persuading Klopp to abandon his sabbatical and be appointed this summer appear remote, but Bayern bosses are almost certain to keep tabs on him if whoever does take over struggles in their maiden season.
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Klopp does have a history of cutting short his breaks from football after leaving Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2015, citing mental fatigue. He vowed to take a year out of the game, but within six months took over from Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.
But the only project he’s confirmed to take on from June 2024 onwards is a major family-based one. Klopp is having two new properties built - one in his homeland in Wiesbaden and one in Mallorca - and has stated his intentions to have a hands-on role in their respective constructions.
