Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will not be stepping in to replace Gareth Southgate as England’s coach following Southgate’s recent decision to resign. Southgate announced his resignation on Tuesday after England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Germany, ending his eight-year tenure with the national team.
As England faces the task of finding a new coach for the first time in almost a decade, there was significant speculation and hope among fans that the Football Association (FA) would consider approaching Klopp, who had recently departed from Liverpool.
Klopp’s successful tenure at Liverpool, where he led the team to multiple titles including the Premier League and the Champions League, made him a highly attractive candidate for many.
However, according to a report from The Telegraph, Klopp will not be available for the England role in time for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The German coach has decided to take a year-long sabbatical from top-level management, planning to return to coaching in July 2025. This sabbatical period is intended for Klopp to take a much-needed break from the relentless demands of football management, which he has been involved in for the past 23 years.
This decision by Klopp means that the FA will likely need to appoint a caretaker or interim manager to guide the team through the initial stages of the World Cup qualification process. This temporary arrangement could potentially pave the way for Klopp to be considered for the role ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
However, it remains uncertain whether Klopp would be interested in taking up the England job once he is ready to return to football. His reputation and success mean that he will likely have multiple offers from both clubs and national teams around the world.
Klopp’s decision to take a break from football is indicative of his desire to explore other aspects of life outside the sport. This break will provide him with an opportunity to recharge and gain new perspectives before returning to the high-pressure environment of football management.
In fact, Klopp recently turned down the opportunity to engage in formal discussions with the United States about replacing Gregg Berhalter as their national team manager, further signaling his commitment to taking a proper break.
As the FA moves forward in its search for Southgate’s successor, the speculation around Klopp’s future remains a point of interest for many in the football world.
While the prospect of him managing England is not entirely off the table, it is clear that any such appointment would not happen until after his sabbatical, leaving England to find an immediate solution to navigate the upcoming qualifiers.
In the meantime, the FA will need to weigh their options and possibly look for a short-term manager who can maintain stability and guide the team through this transitional period until a more permanent and high-profile appointment can be made.
