Souness names only four jobs Klopp would consider after Liverpool

27 January 2024 , 12:06

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Graeme Souness has given his thoughts on Jurgen Klopp's decision to leave Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness believes there are only four jobs that could tempt Jurgen Klopp to return to management following his departure from Anfield.

Klopp will walk away from the Liverpool job at the end of the season, having admitted he is "running out of energy" and plans to take a year away from football before making a decision about his future.

"What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent," he told club media. "That's not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big.

"I couldn't. I couldn't for a second think about it. There's no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There's no chance to do that. But all the rest, will I ever work again?

"Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around. I will find something else maybe to do. But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that's not possible, I cannot do that and I don't want to."

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And Souness, who both managed and played for Liverpool during his career, believes Klopp will only return to management for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or a national team. "Even if he takes five years away now, he'll still be getting offers," Souness wrote in a column for the Daily Mail.

"Will he want to come back? I remember being in a taxi with the great Johnny Giles when I was working for Irish TV. He said to me, 'Will you go back (into management)?'. I told him I wasn't sure.

Klopp will depart Anfield at the end of the season (PA)

"He said, 'Let me tell you what will happen. When you're out of it a year, you'll wonder why you ever did the job in the first place!'. He was right. When you step away from it, it changes you as a human-being and changes your relationship with those close to you.

"Going forward for Jurgen, and if he decides to come back, I think there's only three clubs for him - Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, depending on their financial state. And then there is international football that may be appealing, because of its fewer demands.

"As for Liverpool, he will leave behind enormous shoes for the next man to fill. But he is also leaving behind a dream job, and that is why it must have been a super difficult decision for him to come to."

Matthew Cooper