Jurgen Klopp reveals decision on England job

Jurgen Klopp has claimed he will not take the England job after being named as one of the potential candidates to succeed Gareth Southgate.

The former Liverpool boss made the decision to end his Anfield career after nine years at the helm at the end of the 2023/24 season, admitting that he wanted some time away from the game. He lifted nine trophies while in charge of the Reds, notably winning both the Premier League and Champions League on Merseyside.

The German boss is set to be out of work next season, and has confirmed that he will not take the England job, despite being one of the favourite candidates to succeed Southgate. The former Three Lions boss resigned just days after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain and a new manager has not yet been named.

“Nothing at all. Job-wise, nothing at all,” Klopp said at the International Coaches’ Congress when asked if he was returning to the game. “No club, no country. Some people must not have heard that part.

“That [taking the England job] would be the biggest loss of face in the history of football if I said, ‘I’ll make an exception for you’.

“I will work at something. I’m too young to just play padel and only spend time with my grandchildren. Will it be coaching again? I would actually rule that out at the moment. We’ll see how things look in a few months. Right now, nothing is coming through.”

Liverpool will be led by new head coach Arne Slot when they kick off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Ipswich Town on 17 August. They’re set to face Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla in their final pre-season friendlies before the season commences.

England, meanwhile, return to action in September with Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.