Jürgen Klopp, the charismatic and highly successful former Liverpool manager, has recently shed light on why he declined an offer to manage Manchester United in 2013, before eventually taking the reins at Anfield. In a revealing interview on the 'Diary of a CEO' podcast with Steven Bartlett, Klopp explained that the opportunity, which arose following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, simply wasn't the right fit for him.

Klopp, who ended his nine-year tenure at Liverpool in 2024, stated that while there was interest from Manchester United, several factors contributed to his decision to remain at Borussia Dortmund at the time. He emphasized that the timing was not ideal, as he had a contract with Dortmund and no intention of breaking it. More importantly, Klopp felt that the vision being presented by Manchester United did not align with his own philosophy and approach to building a successful football club.

Klopp elaborated that the conversation with Manchester United centered around a strategy of acquiring high-profile players, rather than focusing on building a cohesive team with a clear identity. He expressed reservations about the idea of simply bringing in big names without a defined project and a long-term vision. Klopp highlighted that he prefers to have significant control over the football project, enabling him to build a squad that embodies his tactical vision. He wants to develop players and foster a team spirit, rather than just assembling a collection of individual stars.

"There were some things in the conversations that I didn't like," Klopp said. "The idea was that big - 'we get all the players you want, we get him, and him, and him - and I was sitting there like... yeah, this is not my type of project". He further explained his concerns by bringing up the idea of bringing back players like Paul Pogba or Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that while both are sensational players, bringing players back "never helps".

Klopp's comments suggest a fundamental difference in approach between himself and Manchester United's vision at the time. While United seemed focused on immediate success through big-name signings, Klopp prioritized building a sustainable project based on team cohesion and a clear footballing identity. This ultimately led him to reject the opportunity and eventually join Liverpool, where he enjoyed a transformative and trophy-laden spell.

Interestingly, Klopp also commented on Manchester United's squad in 2013, suggesting that it was "built to fail" because it wasn't a team designed to build the future. He said that the team was not one on which a future could be built.

His decision to snub Manchester United proved to be a pivotal moment in football history, as he went on to transform Liverpool into a dominant force in both domestic and European football. Under Klopp's leadership, Liverpool won their first Premier League title in 30 years, as well as a sixth Champions League title, among other major trophies. Meanwhile, Manchester United has struggled to replicate their past success since Ferguson's departure, highlighting the importance of having the right manager with a clear vision and the autonomy to implement it.