Jürgen Klopp has ruled himself out of contention to succeed Joachim Löw as Germany manager this summer and insisted he will honour his Liverpool contract until 2024.
The Liverpool manager was immediately linked with the national post after Löw announced his 15-year reign will end following Euro 2020. Klopp dismissed the prospect at the first opportunity, however, and reiterated his commitment to fulfilling the five-year contract extension he signed in December 2019.
Klopp retains unequivocal support from Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, despite a dreadful run of form that has left the Premier League champions struggling to finish in the top four and enduring the worst home run in the club’s history. FSG and Klopp remain convinced Liverpool will recover when key players return from injury and a few additions are made to the squad this summer.
“Am I available for the job of coach of the German national team in the summer? No,” said Klopp, speaking before Wednesday’s Champions League tie against RB Leipzig. “Jogi Löw did an incredible job for so many years. I think he is the longest servant we had in Germany and for sure one of the most successful.
“I understand that he wants to have this highlight of the European Championships and try to squeeze everything out what he can from this tournament and then someone else will do the job. I am pretty sure with the amount of really good German managers at the moment the German FA will find a good solution.”
The Liverpool manager also clarified: “After this summer, I will not be available as a potential coach for the German team.”
Klopp would be Liverpool’s longest serving manager since Bob Paisley by the end of his third contract with the club, and maintains it will be honoured. Asked where the Germany job fits into his life plans, he replied: “Well, I have three years left at Liverpool. That’s a simple statement, a simple situation.
“You sign a contract and you normally try to stick to that contract, don’t you? I had a contract in Mainz where I stuck with them even though there was interest from other Bundesliga teams with more money. It is just timing and if it doesn’t work out you don’t have to lose any sleep over it.”
Liverpool take a 2-0 lead into the last 16 second leg “home” game in Budapest against Leipzig. Roberto Firmino remains a doubt for the game having also missed Sunday’s Anfield defeat by Fulham with a minor injury. – Guardian
