The Call That Could Have Changed Everything

Before becoming the modern icon of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp had the chance to coach the Reds’ biggest rival. The German manager revealed that Manchester United approached him in 2013, right after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, to offer him the job at Old Trafford.

“In the year Sir Alex retired, they spoke to me,” Klopp said on The Diary of a CEO podcast. “Of course they were interested. At that time, I was too — I was young, and I had a sensational team at Borussia Dortmund. But it was the wrong moment.”

Klopp explained that he was fully committed to the Dortmund project, and even though United’s offer was serious, he couldn’t break his word. “I had a contract with Dortmund and I wouldn’t have left for anyone,” he said.

A Project That Didn’t Convince Him

Beyond his commitment to Dortmund, Klopp admitted there was something in United’s proposal that didn’t sit right with him. “There were things that just didn’t fit. The idea was massive — ‘we’ll get you all the players you want, we’ll sign this one, that one…’ And I was sitting there thinking: ‘This isn’t my kind of project.’”

The German coach confessed that he didn’t like the club’s approach at that time, focused more on big names than on building a solid football identity. “I didn’t want to bring back players like Pogba or Cristiano Ronaldo. They’re incredible, but those things rarely work. It just wasn’t the right project for me,” he explained.

Liverpool: The Perfect Destination

When Klopp turned down United, destiny had other plans. Two years later, in 2015, Liverpool came calling — and a new era began. Over nine seasons, the German guided the club to a Premier League title, a Champions League, and restored its global greatness.

“At Liverpool, it was pure football,” Klopp said. “That was my kind of project.”

In hindsight, that choice defined his legacy. Had he accepted Manchester United’s offer, the story of English football — and of Jurgen Klopp himself — might have looked very different.