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UPDATE: Jurgen Klopp has, unsurprisingly, turned down the offer of becoming the head coach of the USMNT, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Original article:
The United States Soccer Federation officially fired head coach Gregg Berhalter on Wednesday, July 10, leaving one of the three hosts of the 2026 World Cup.
Ever since the United States Men’s National Team was knocked out of the 2024 Copa America in the group stage, speculation has been rampant about who Berhalter’s potential successor could be, with many USMNT fans clamoring for former Liverpool manager and Premier League great Jurgen Klopp.
While landing Klopp — especially considering he *just* retired from Liverpool due to a self-admitted lack of energy — is obviously a big if for the USMNT, it’s a shot worth taking nonetheless given Klopp’s pedigree, which is apparently exactly what the Federation has done.
According to top soccer journalist Miguel Delaney, US Soccer has made Klopp “a top target for manager and made initial approaches through intermediaries.”
“The Independent understands that initial contact has been made with Klopp over the possibility of replacing the 50-year-old, as the United States gears up for the 2026 World Cup. A move into international football would offer a different challenge, though, with less of the day-to-day pressures of club coaching.”
Delaney’s reporting comes in tandem with comments from U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker, who said the USMNT is “prepared to invest in a serial winning coach,” which is exactly what Klopp is, having been the only manager in the modern era to unseat Manchester City from atop the Premier League throne.
“We are looking for a serial winning coach and a coach that can also build on the work that has already been put in place. Clearly, there’s still a lot of potential in the group and we have to turn out the performance and results, so that’s what I’ll be looking for and that’ll be my absolute No. 1 priority,” Crocker said. “It’s something we’re prepared to invest in and something that we will be invested in.”
With all the focus on the salary it would require to land Klopp and whether or not he’s currently got the requisite gas in the tank for the job, one element that soccer journalists have yet to discuss is whether or not Klopp, who has long been vocal about his left-wing politics, would even want to represent the United States, especially considering the potential results of this November’s election.
There’s also the possibility that his native Germany could be in the market for a new national team manager before the 2026 World Cup, as well.