Things could’ve been very different.
Jurgen Klopp has revealed he turned down the chance to succeed Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game against United, the Liverpool manager said the approach came at a bad time, as he had just guided Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final, and was unwilling to walk away from the club.
Klopp, according to The Daily Mail, said Ferguson sounded him out on his availability.
“We spoke,” the German said. “We spoke not a lot but, for me, it was a lot. It was a big honour, the whole talk, to be honest. But I could not leave Dortmund.”
“You are in April and you are in the middle of the planning for next season. You have this player and this player who are coming but then you are not there anymore? That doesn’t work. Not in my life.”
“I didn’t hear about a real offer (from United) but, if there was, I could not have done it. I first had to finish the job with Dortmund and then think about other things.”
“Maybe that is not smart but that is my way. It was the same at Mainz.”
When asked directly if Ferguson outright offered him the position, Klopp said: “There is nothing more to say on this.”
It’s not all bad, Manchester United fans, the club settled on David Moyes, and that turned out…
Oh well, nevermind.
