Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he turned down the chance to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013.
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp said that
while Manchester United were interested in him when he was coaching Borussia
Dortmund, he didn’t feel it was the right time — or the right project.
Then, two years later, he ended up moving to England and
joining Liverpool, where he made history over the next nine years.
Revealing he once had an opportunity to join United instead,
Klopp said: 'In the year when Sir Alex retired, they spoke to me. Of
course, they were interested at one point. At that time, I would have been
interested, I was young — I had a sensational team at Dortmund. They probably
thought, "What is he doing there?"
'Later on I heard that my players — James Milner and Adam
Lallana — they flew to Real Madrid when we (Dortmund) had a
semi-final there in the Champions League just to watch us play.
"What is Dortmund doing? What football that is". I mean, you cannot
get a bigger compliment.
'United tried (to approach me). It was wrong time, wrong
moment. I had a contract at Dortmund and wouldn’t have left for anybody. They
wanted a new manager and I was one of a few options I think.'
Asked if he turned Manchester United down rather than
the other way around, Klopp replied 'yes' before adding: 'There were some
things in the conversations that I didn't like. The idea was that big —
"We get all the players we want, we get him, we get him" — and I was
sitting there thinking this is not my project. It was the wrong time but on top
of that it was not my project.'
In the years following Ferguson's departure, United splashed
out on a sea of high-profile stars who struggled to perform at Old Trafford,
including the likes of Angel Di Maria, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
The Red Devils also weren't afraid to bring back superstars
they once sold, with Paul Pogba returning for a huge £89m in 2016 and Cristiano
Ronaldo agreeing to a second stint at Old Trafford in 2021.
Insisting he would not have wanted to sign these players were he manager
of United, Klopp said: 'I didn't want to bring back Pogba, he was a
sensational player but these things don't work usually. Or Cristiano, we all
know he's the best player, together with (Lionel) Messi, in the world but
bringing back never helps.
'In 2013, it was not about Cristiano, maybe about Paul, I'm not even sure,
but the idea is we bring the best players together and then let’s go.'
Interjecting, Barlett said: 'So, it wasn't about the football?'
'Not at all,' Klopp said. 'And that's not for me. Then, a pure football
project comes up with Liverpool. And a sensational talk with Mike Gordon. That
was really important as well. After that talk, I wanted to be his friend. He's
such a good guy.'
Bartlett, a Manchester United fan, went on to ask Klopp why Liverpool's
bitter rivals have struggled so much since Ferguson's exit - a question which
prompted guffaws of laughter from the German boss.
'I didn’t think for a second since I joined Liverpool about what Man
United did right or wrong. At that moment, I buy into Liverpool and you become
our "opponent", one that is more fun to beat than others. With
Everton, I know so many Everton fans in Liverpool, I lived their for nine
years, great people. But then you go to the game and it's something different.
I don't make that up, it's like that.
'Always in football, like in life, you have a problem and you only try to
find a solution for now knowing you have another problem two days later. But
just find a solution for that problem - there's no point looking to the mid or
long-term.
'At United, we deal with it for a year or two and then we can make a big
step. Because you're in such a rush because you want or have to win the next
game. When (United) were not happy, they would buy the time.'
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