Jurgen Klopp explains why Manchester United’s vision didn’t match his philosophy
Jurgen Klopp has opened up about the moment he turned down the chance to manage Manchester United — a decision that changed the course of his career. The German coach revealed that he was approached by United in 2013 but chose not to accept because Jurgen Klopp rejected Manchester United’s project as it did not match his vision for the future.
At the time, Klopp was one of Europe’s most sought-after coaches. He had just led Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final, earning a reputation as one of the brightest managerial minds in football. Meanwhile, United were on the hunt for a successor to the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who had just announced his retirement.
Jurgen Klopp turned down Manchester United’s offer
Klopp confirmed during his appearance on The Diary Of A CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett that he had spoken to the Old Trafford hierarchy when they were searching for a new manager. He was among the top candidates considered for the job. However, Jurgen Klopp turned down Manchester United’s offer after being unimpressed with what the club presented as their long-term plan.
“They spoke to me the year Sir Alex retired,” Klopp explained. “At that time, I would have been interested. I was young, I had a sensational team at Dortmund. My God, they probably thought, ‘what is he doing there?’”
Despite the strong interest, Klopp said it simply wasn’t the right moment for him. “They tried. It was the wrong time, wrong moment for me. I had a contract at Dortmund. I wouldn’t have left for anybody at that time. They just needed a manager, but the manager they wanted, it was one of a few options I think.”
United eventually appointed David Moyes, Ferguson’s hand-picked successor. But Moyes lasted less than a year before being sacked. Ryan Giggs briefly stepped in as interim boss before the club turned to Louis van Gaal, then Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and most recently Ruben Amorim. Interim spells for Ralf Rangnick, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Michael Carrick also followed — showing just how turbulent the post-Ferguson era has been.
Jurgen Klopp explains why Manchester United’s vision didn’t match his philosophy
Klopp didn’t just say no because of timing. He turned United down because the Jurgen Klopp explains why Manchester United’s vision didn’t match his philosophy. According to him, the club’s idea of success was simply signing the biggest names in the world, rather than building a real football project.
“People in that conversation told me things that I didn’t like,” Klopp said. “United was that big, we get all the players we want. We get him, we get him, we get him. And I was sitting there thinking, this is not my project.”
He recalled how the approach was focused on assembling star players like Paul Pogba or Cristiano Ronaldo — both world-class talents — but not on building a team identity. “Bringing players back doesn’t always work,” Klopp added. “Cristiano and Messi were the best players in the world, but signing big names alone doesn’t guarantee success. It wasn’t about football. I said, that’s not for me.”
That mindset clashed with Klopp’s philosophy. At Dortmund, he had built a dynamic, high-pressing team from the ground up. And later at Liverpool, he would do the same — focusing on developing a collective rather than relying on superstar signings.
Klopp eventually stayed at Dortmund for two more years before joining Liverpool in 2015. His decision turned out to be transformative for the Reds. Under his leadership, Liverpool won the Premier League for the first time in 30 years, lifted the Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and Community Shield. He also turned Anfield into one of the most feared stadiums in Europe.
Looking back, his decision to walk away from Manchester United’s offer seems even more significant. United, despite their massive financial power, have struggled to return to the dominance they enjoyed under Ferguson. Klopp, meanwhile, became a club legend at Liverpool, shaping one of the most exciting teams of the modern era.
In the end, Klopp’s rejection wasn’t just about timing — it was about principle. He wanted to build a footballing identity, not just collect famous names. And that choice defined his legacy.
