As his tenure at Liverpool draws to an end, 56-year-old Jurgen Klopp has disclosed that he previously turned down an offer from the Reds.
This Sunday at Anfield, the Liverpool manager will be in charge of his farewell game against Wolves. It is sure to be a very emotional occasion.
Not only is Klopp bidding farewell to Liverpool fans, but many other Merseysiders are also leaving, including Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, and Pep Lijnders.
Throughout his last week, Klopp has been expressing gratitude to the team and the fans while also remembering some of his best times in the dugout.
The adored Liverpool manager, though, has since disclosed that in 2012, while coaching at Borussia Dortmund, he turned down a bid from the Reds.
FERVENTLY REJECTING LIVERPOOL’S OFFER
Speaking to The Telegraph, Klopp disclosed that Liverpool had extended an employment offer to him several years prior to his October 2015 arrival, but he had expressed no interest in the role at all.
Klopp recalled the suggestion and remarked, “Liverpool? Nope, not a chance. When I was at Dortmund three years prior to coming here, I had a call from Ian Ayre, the then chief executive of LFC, asking if I would be interested.
“I thought, ‘eh?’ at that very time. Dortmund was dominating and maybe defending their title as champions.
“Liverpool was not doing well. It was not a location where one could just say, “Yeah, Liverpool is calling. Come on, let’s go.”
But Klopp said that he was eager to accept a second approach when it presented itself three years later.
After three years, things changed. For whatever reason, it was my top option. It’s difficult to describe. I simply felt it was the one I desired,” Klopp remarked.
Given the paths taken by Liverpool and Dortmund, it’s hardly unexpected that Klopp felt this way at the time, even though it may not have been precisely what the fans wanted to hear.
At the beginning of the 2010s, the Reds were struggling, and some of the team’s lowest points occurred at that period. Fortunately, Klopp granted his request when he asked again.