Manchester United denies being rejected by Klopp again! Top coaches face final hurdle as many opt for national teams

This week, Manchester United denied reaching out to Klopp after he left Liverpool to ask if he would coach them. Similarly, Chelsea, which has changed managers frequently recently, also denies any contact. For clubs, testing interest via intermediaries and denying contact after rejection is routine.

Manchester United certainly won’t admit being turned down by Klopp again. Back in 2014, the Red Devils negotiated with Klopp, but he felt Ed Woodward’s vision resembled a football-themed Disney rather than a genuine club, so he chose to stay at Borussia Dortmund.

Klopp left Anfield in 2024, announcing his retirement from coaching. He now serves as global football director for Red Bull's clubs. However, agent Mark Kosicke told Transfermarkt that before joining Red Bull, Klopp received offers from Manchester United and Chelsea.

Reportedly, this happened at the end of the 2023/24 season when Manchester United was preparing to sack Ten Hag. Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos management team also contacted Tuchel then. Ultimately, Ten Hag stayed after winning the FA Cup and signed a one-year extension.

Klopp’s agent said: “Maybe one day he’ll want to return to the dugout, but for now, he’s content with his current role. Before joining Red Bull, Jürgen could have coached the US or England teams. If Nagelsmann hadn’t taken Germany, he might have considered that too. Chelsea and Manchester United also inquired, though Jürgen clearly stated he wouldn’t coach any English club other than Liverpool. Such inquiries persist. He’s very proud of his achievements, being one of the few coaches to have managed only three clubs and never been fired — a remarkable feat.”

Last October, Klopp said: “I’ve said I’d never coach another English club, meaning if I return to the Premier League, it would only be Liverpool. Theoretically possible, but I enjoy my current job and don’t miss coaching. I no longer like standing in the rain for two or three hours or doing three press conferences and ten to twelve interviews weekly. I really don’t miss that.”

Both Manchester United and Chelsea firmly deny having contacted Klopp personally or through agents. Regardless of who’s truthful, it’s no surprise that top clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid struggle to find managers nowadays, as more coaches are reluctant to lead big teams.

Tuchel, once a favorite for Manchester United’s next manager, has extended his contract with the England national team until 2028, which seems a natural outcome given he’s only been in charge for a year. England FA CEO Mark Bullingham said Tuchel enjoys the role, and Tuchel himself stated: “I might be tempted to return to club football, but not within the next two and a half years.”

Although the FA hasn’t denied there’s a release clause in Tuchel’s contract, his decision means he’s no longer on the shortlist for Manchester United or Real Madrid this summer. Interestingly, these two European giants find it harder than expected to find suitable managers, with current interim bosses Carrick and Avelar having good chances to be appointed permanently.

This continues an interesting trend of elite coaches moving into international football, where appointments tend to be younger and tenures longer. Ancelotti, considered an ideal candidate by many Manchester United fans, has agreed to extend his contract with Brazil for four years, with an announcement expected soon.

As national team managers, coaches have more time to think, observe, and learn; they can visit clubs to better understand players through wider contact; and they have freedom to select squads without restrictions from owners or sporting directors over financial rules.

Although the player pool is limited to nationals, at least the selection power is theirs. Conversely, at clubs, the manager’s role is increasingly confined to tactics, training grounds, and the 90-minute matches played every three days or weekly.

Former Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim was very dissatisfied, issuing an ultimatum before his dismissal: either fire me or let me be the football director. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who once promised him three years to prove himself as a world-class coach, didn’t hesitate this time and sent the termination letter the next day!

Nowadays, a coach’s achievements winning league titles and cups at clubs are quickly forgotten. Last season, Klopp led Liverpool to the Premier League title, but after a dip in form this season, he was labeled useless. Guardiola at Manchester City has been rumored to be disillusioned in recent years, with many saying he’s outdated, much like his old rival Mourinho once was.

If Guardiola decides to leave Manchester City after ten years this summer, it will mark the end of an era. It’s imaginable he will take a break or coach a national team next.

A coach who wins the World Cup with a national team receives very different praise. Even without winning, national team managers can continue. For instance, Nagelsmann remained Germany’s coach after the 2024 European Championship at home. If Southgate hadn’t stepped down, he could have continued with England.

Back at club level, fans criticize Southgate for lacking ability, Ancelotti for being too old, and Tuchel for being stubborn. Manchester United interviewed Tuchel twice; he won league titles with Bayern Munich and PSG and lifted the Champions League with Chelsea but is still not considered a suitable candidate.

Zidane, who achieved a Champions League three-peat with Real Madrid, patiently waited six years hoping Deschamps would step down after this World Cup. More top coaches are leaving the club scene. After Klopp left Anfield, though he didn’t become Germany’s coach as some fans hoped, he seems to enjoy his role as global football director at Red Bull.

Last month, after Real Madrid dismissed Xavi Alonso, Klopp was considered a top replacement candidate, but “The Normal One” clearly responded to rumors about coaching Real Madrid: “That doesn’t move me at all.”

Sometimes club fans and owners are overly critical; a coach’s ability isn’t calculated by theory. When Ancelotti coached Napoli and Everton and failed, no one expected he would later lead Real Madrid to two more Champions League titles.

Some coaches succeed in special environments. Although Mourinho’s recent results have been mediocre, rumors still link him to Real Madrid again. In September last year, he agreed to coach Benfica, helping Rui Costa secure re-election as club president.

Mourinho’s first season back in the Portuguese league was somewhat disappointing; the team remained unbeaten in 22 league matches but drew too often, finishing third. A thrilling home win in the last Champions League group match, with the goalkeeper scoring a last-minute header, changed the situation by advancing them to playoffs.

The Portuguese “Special One” has a contract clause allowing him to leave freely ten days after the last match of the season. If Real Madrid doesn’t call him, and after the World Cup the Portuguese FA invites Mourinho to replace Roberto Martinez as national coach, would that be surprising? Certainly not!

If Slot is sacked, Alonso remains a leading candidate for Liverpool’s manager. Had Luis de la Fuente performed poorly at the World Cup, Alonso might have considered taking over Spain. After all, Luis Enrique became Spain’s coach in his early forties back in 2018.

National team managers have fewer duties and more time, living much more relaxed lives than club managers. Though criticized during tournaments, most fans spend their time blaming club managers and pay little attention to national team coaches.

Sometimes a coach’s fate depends on timing. Roberto Mancini wanted to return to the Premier League this season; vacancies appeared at West Ham and Nottingham Forest. After talks with Forest, he chose Qatar’s Al Sadd. Had he waited longer, he might have attracted interest from Manchester United and Tottenham after Amorim and Thomas Frank were dismissed or had more contact after Forest sacked Sean Dyche.

Players at clubs now earn huge salaries, making it hard to motivate them. De Zerbi, who took over Marseille in 2024 after being sacked, showed his players Manchester United’s contract offer after a loss to Auxerre to prove his passion for football surpassed money, unlike his players’ lack of enthusiasm.

After legends like Ferguson, Wenger, Lippi, Capello, Hitzfeld, and Del Bosque retired, football saw a new generation led by Guardiola, Mourinho, Klopp, and Ancelotti. But now, who can become the next coaching king?

Guardiola’s current rival is his former assistant Arteta, who has managed Arsenal for six years but only won the FA Cup early on. Arsenal once held a clear lead this season, but after last week’s 1-1 draw with Brentford, his lead over Guardiola and Manchester City shrank to four points with 12 Premier League rounds remaining. The shadow of last season’s title loss to Liverpool looms again.

Xavi has been unemployed since being dismissed by Barcelona two years ago. He led the team to the league title in 2022/23, the first since Messi’s departure, but that achievement is already forgotten. Fans of Manchester United and other clubs doubt Xavi’s abilities, considering him inadequate.

Coaches who once seemed promising soon appear outdated. Slot, Xavi aren’t alone; former Tottenham manager Pochettino is similar. Earlier, André Villas-Boas was hailed as the new Portuguese “madman” but became Porto’s club president in 2024. Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is now technical director at Twente.

Amorim won Sporting CP’s first and second league titles in nearly two decades, but like Ten Hag, he’ll be remembered for his failure at Manchester United. This doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach, but it’s hard to imagine him getting another Premier League job soon.

Early in the season, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner were highly praised, but as their teams dropped in the standings and their contracts near expiry, they are no longer hot prospects for top clubs.

Success at top clubs brings unusual challenges. Every move is magnified and even simple celebrations are portrayed as extraordinary. But failure makes you the biggest villain in the world.

After Manchester United lost to League Two’s Grimsby, a photo of Amorim at the tactics board became a meme. Such moments can instantly end a coach’s career at a big club. Thus, finding the ideal manager today is increasingly difficult.

Sometimes people question whether success belongs to the coach or the club’s operational system. For example, after Frank coached Tottenham, Brentford sold key players like Mbeumo and Wissa and were considered relegation candidates. Yet successor Keith Andrew, with no prior coaching experience, brought the team to 7th place, just 4 points from Champions League spots.

What has allowed Brighton to establish themselves in the Premier League? Is it coaches like Chris Hughton, Graham Potter, De Zerbi, and Fabian Heitzler, or the data analysis and player recruitment systems that remain effective even after key personnel left?

Clubs are becoming more demanding of managers. With football styles evolving, they want coaches focused on training, match preparation, and player development, not clinging to personal styles. They also don’t want coaches to challenge or pressure them, nor lose influence over player transfers. This narrows the pool of available coaching talent.

Renowned coaches like Antonio Conte, who have won titles in different countries and clubs, are considered too troublesome and short-tenured, thus not considered. Although statistics show most coaching careers are brief.

De Zerbi had his trusted scout Salvatore Monaco to assist with transfers. Fabregas holds shares in Como, giving him influence in the club he coaches. Having played under Guardiola and Wenger, both of whom built clubs according to their ideas, Fabregas would not have the same influence if he moved elsewhere.

Club managers face many prejudices. Many recent Europa League and Conference League-winning coaches—Mourinho, Emery, David Moyes, and Gasperini—were once doubted or mocked.

Scott Fitzgerald wrote: Americans don’t get second chances. But managers do, even as they age or trends change; their philosophies and methods remain relevant despite often being seen as outdated.

A manager’s results don’t always reflect ability. Bayern won the Bundesliga last season, but does that mean Kompany is stronger than Mourinho, who last won a league title 10 years ago? Remember, Bayern have been Bundesliga champions 12 out of the past 13 years!

Manchester United, Real Madrid, Tottenham, and many top league clubs will face challenges in the coming months—whether due to man-made issues, player shortages, imbalance between experience and potential, internal club structure and squad problems, or mismatches between coaches and timing.