Jurgen Klopp: “I Never Felt Like a World-Class Coach”

Despite leaving Liverpool in 2024 as one of football’s most celebrated managers, Jurgen Klopp admitted he never considered himself “world-class.”

“I never considered myself a world-class coach,” Klopp told AFP in Leipzig. “Because I still had so many questions when I finished. I was like ‘how can I be world class with these questions still?’”

Klopp’s managerial journey began at Mainz, leading the club to the Bundesliga for the first time. He later moved to Borussia Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and reaching the 2013 Champions League final. At Liverpool, starting in 2015, he won every major trophy, including the Premier League and Champions League.

Now Red Bull’s global head of football, overseeing clubs like RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls, and Paris FC, Klopp said he aims to guide coaches who face the same challenges he once did.

“My role with the coaches is to be the guy I never had. I sat in my office very, very, very often, very, very, very alone… I want to be in moments when I know they are alone, or feel alone. I want to be there.”

He described overseeing the firing of former Leipzig coach Marco Rose, a long-time friend, in 2025 as a strange experience.

“Grave-digger of the coaches — that’s a title I never wanted to win!”

Klopp reflected on his coaching philosophy, emphasizing perspective and performance over results.

“Giving your all doesn’t mean you will get anything, but it’s your only chance to get something… Results are the result of the performance. So we worked on the performance and the results came later.”

He also revealed his detachment from trophy celebrations:

“I love being a part of it, not in the middle of it… For me, it was the journey that I loved. That gave me much more than the moment [of winning].”

RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schaefer praised Klopp’s presence, saying:

“He has something that is unique… He can catch people in five to 10 minutes. You know if Jurgen Klopp is in the room.”

Since leaving Anfield, Klopp has been linked to high-profile coaching jobs, but he suggested a return to management is unlikely.

“I don’t expect to change my mind, but I don’t know. We’re building a house right now… It might sound arrogant, but I know I can coach a football team. But I don’t need to do it until my last day.”

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