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Jurgen Klopp rejected an initial offer from the United States to become the new head coach of the men’s national team.
The United States has named Klopp as the leading candidate in its search for a new coach to replace Gregg Berhalter, whose second stint as U.S. national team coach ended this week with the team’s group stage exit from the Copa America on home soil.
Independent It is understood initial contact has been made with Klopp about potentially replacing the 50-year-old coach as the United States prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which it will co-host with Canada and Mexico and hopes to overcome its last-16 exit in Qatar.
However, Klopp turned down the opportunity to enter into formal talks with the United States Soccer Federation.
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of the Premier League season, bringing to an end a transformative period at Anfield, during the German manager’s nine years with the Merseyside club which saw them win their first Premier League title in 30 years and also lift the Champions League.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager suggested when his departure was confirmed that he was looking to take a break from management because he was “running out of energy”.
A move to international football would offer a different challenge, with less of the day-to-day pressure of club coaching, but Klopp was not appealed by the prospect of managing in America.
Berhalter’s departure came just a year after he returned to coach the U.S. men’s national team.
The team struggled to perform consistently in their preparations for the Copa America, suffering early elimination after losses to Uruguay and Panama in the group stage.
“We want to thank Greg for his hard work and dedication to U.S. Soccer and the men’s national team,” U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said.
“We are now focused on working with sporting director Matt Crocker to leverage his experience at the highest level of the sport to find the right person to lead the USMNT into a new era of on-field success.”
