Klopp faces immediate test to break plans as exciting new job offer emerges
Jurgen Klopp's plan to take a year away from football after leaving Liverpool in the summer is set to be tested by an offer to coach Germany after the Euros.
Klopp insists he needs a break from the game to recharge his energy after eight energy-sapping years at Anfield - and has hinted that he may even walk away for good.
But he is seen as a natural to take charge of Germany’s national team in his homeland - and DFB vice-president Ronny Zimmermann has revealed that the 56-year-old former Borussia Dortmund boss will be in the frame for the job with Julian Nagelsmann’s contract set to expire after they host the tournament.
Zimmermann said: “I don’t think we need to talk about the fact that Jurgen Klopp is a brilliant coach. We also don’t have to talk about the fact that he could also be a candidate for national coach.
“But the time for making wishes like these was Christmas. After the European Championships we will talk about the national coach and not about what we might wish for. But I could well live with Jurgen Klopp, like many others I think.”
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Nagelsmann was put in temporary charge following his departure from Bayern Munich after Hansi Flick was sacked after just nine months in the job in the aftermath of a 4-1 home defeat by Japan.
Klopp says he plans to spend a year away from football (PA)Flick was in charge when Germany were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the group stages - the first time since 1938 they were knocked out at the first hurdle.
Klopp intended to take a 12-month sabbatical after quitting Dortmund in 2015. But when Liverpool approached him just five months later he was unable to resist the lure of Anfield. He is adamant that this time he will stick to his plan to take an extended time-out - even if his country comes calling.
Julian Nagelsmann will manage Germany at the Euros (Getty Images)Former Reds’ midfielder Xabi Alonso is the frontrunner to succeed Klopp. Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro has rejected claims that Alonso has a clause in his contract with the Bundesliga leaders that would allow him to walk out to join former clubs Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
But it is understood that there is a verbal agreement for the 42-year-old Spaniard to pursue a new challenge if the right offer was made. Alonso already has a big reputation in the game after less than two seasons as a coach.
He guided Leverkusen into Europe last season and they are proving to be a big threat to Bayern’s hopes of winning a 12th successive Bundesliga title after an 18-game unbeaten start to the campaign. Alonso is also viewed at Manchester City as a potential successor for Pep Guardiola.
City looked at him as a possible assistant to his former Bayern boss when Mikel Arteta left the club to join Arsenal.
Arteta decided he wanted to pursue a path that would make him a No 1 sooner - although it is also understood that he realised a spell at the Etihad would damage his long-term prospects of eventually returning to Liverpool.
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