Jurgen Klopp Reveals Why He Turned Down Chance to Succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has disclosed the reasons behind his decision to turn down the opportunity to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013.

Speaking on Steve Bartlett's 'Diary of a CEO' podcast, Klopp, who concluded a celebrated nine-year tenure at Anfield in 2024, explained that he was approached by the Old Trafford club while he was managing a successful Borussia Dortmund side.

The German coach revealed that while he was initially intrigued by the interest, the timing and the club's proposed strategy did not align with his own philosophy.

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"In the year when Sir Alex retired, they spoke to me," Klopp said as quoted by the Daily Mail. "Of course, they were interested at one point. At that time, I would have been interested, I was young—I had a sensational team at Dortmund."

Klopp contrasted United's approach with his own vision for a football project. "There were some things in the conversations that I didn't like," he explained. "The idea was that big—'We get all the players we want, we get him, we get him'—and I was sitting there thinking this is not my project. It was the wrong time but on top of that it was not my project."

He specifically mentioned that he would not have endorsed the high-profile returns of players like Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo, which United later pursued.

"I didn't want to bring back Pogba," Klopp stated. "He was a sensational player but these things don't usually work. Or Cristiano, we all know he's the best player, together with (Lionel) Messi, in the world but bringing back never helps."

Since Ferguson's retirement in 2013, Manchester United has struggled to replicate its past dominance, cycling through numerous managers including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho, with only sporadic cup success.

In stark contrast, Klopp's arrival at Liverpool in 2015 heralded a new era of success, culminating in a Champions League title in 2019 and the club's first top-flight league championship in 30 years in 2020.

Klopp emphasised that his commitment to Dortmund was a key factor at the time. "United tried to approach me. It was the wrong time, wrong moment. I had a contract at Dortmund and wouldn’t have left for anybody," he affirmed.

Reflecting on United's subsequent struggles, Klopp, who became a fierce rival to the club, noted their short-term approach.

"At United, we deal with it for a year or two and then we can make a big step. Because you're in such a rush because you want or have to win the next game. When they were not happy, they would buy the time,” he said.

Ultimately, Klopp found the "pure football project" he was looking for at Liverpool, highlighting a pivotal conversation with Fenway Sports Group's Mike Gordon. "A sensational talk with Mike Gordon. That was really important as well," Klopp recalled. "After that talk, I wanted to be his friend. He's such a good guy."

Klopp has pointed to Jose Mourinho's dismissal from Manchester United as a cautionary tale, highlighting the immense pressure clubs face in the Premier League. The ex-Liverpool manager recalled how Mourinho was fired in 2018 despite finishing second, an achievement the Portuguese coach later called one of his greatest.

"Jose finishing second, remember that," Klopp stated. "At that time, second was not good enough, and now you're not even close to that. That's not a Man United story; it's a football story. It's always like that."

Klopp elaborated on the volatile nature of football management, where perceptions can shift dramatically based on a single result. "In the world of football, you win and you are the greatest. You lose and you know nothing about the game. You draw, you're boring," he explained.