He feels he made the right choice.
Jurgen Klopp is an enormously popular figure at Liverpool. His infectious charisma, coupled with an undying commitment to attacking football, means he spends every other weekend soaking up acclaim from the Kop.
Such is his character, Klopp probably would have established a special connection with Manchester United fans too. Maybe, maybe not, but we could have found out how good a fit the German would have been at Old Trafford had he felt differently about the chance of becoming David Moyes’ successor.
United executive vice-chairman had identified Klopp as the ideal candidate to succeed the Scot as he felt the Borussia Dortmund boss was the right man to reignite United’s sense of attacking adventure.
While United ultimately settled for Louis van Gaal in the summer of 2014, there was, according to Klopp, genuine interest from the red half of Manchester over acquiring his services. Speaking to Sky Sports pundit and ex-Liverpool player Phil Thompson, Klopp explained why he turned them down:
“Yes, there was interest. Manchester United, yes, they were interested a year or a year and a half before, but it didn’t feel right. I couldn’t say Man United is not my club, it didn’t feel right.”
Klopp was also reportedly of interest to Tottenham and Manchester City before eventually being appointed Liverpool boss in October 2015, replacing Brendan Rodgers.
“A lot of clubs called and I said ‘No, no chance, I need to make a break now’. Even my wife knew, if Liverpool is calling, I go. When Liverpool called, I had no chance. It was actually too early for my plans. I said, ‘Wow, come on!”
“But then coming here and feeling the spirit immediately, it was just, for me, a match in heaven.”
A match made in heaven? There is no doubt that Klopp has had his ups and downs as Liverpool boss but he remains a hugely likeable character at Anfield, both with the fans and players. The Reds’ 4-3 defeat of Manchester City will only help his popularity, of course, but one does wonder how the paths of Liverpool and Manchester United would have differed from subsequent reality had Klopp accepted Woodward’s offer.
