JURGEN KLOPP is being lined up for a shock career change in his first job after leaving Liverpool, reports suggest.
Klopp, 56, announced he would be leaving the Reds at the end of the season.
But the German could now be in line for a move into punditry.
National broadcaster bosses at BBC and ITV are eyeing Klopp for their punditry teams for coverage of Euro 2024.
According to the Daily Mail, both are “desperate” to land the former Borussia Dortmund manager for his analysis of the tournament being held in his native Germany.
They believe the Anfield boss would be a must-watch feature on their programmes, with BBC chiefs said to have been more aggressive in their approach.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
However, the Mail’s report adds the pair are set to be disappointed.
Rather than immediately stepping into punditry when he leaves Liverpool following his nine-year spell in charge, Klopp will turn down the offers.
It is claimed Klopp will attend the Euros, but will be attending as a football fan.
He is said to have tickets for each of Germany’s first three group stage matches, starting with the tournament curtain raiser in Munich against Scotland on June 14.
Most read in Football
CHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL
Klopp said he wanted to take some time away from football when leaving Liverpool due to running out of energy.
His farewell tour started out in dream fashion by winning the Carabao Cup against Chelsea in February.
Klopp has also hinted at the possibility of retirement, but admitted he was unsure on such a move.
Although he said he will certainly never manage another club in England.
He said: “If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say now no.
“But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation.
“What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible.
“My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it.
Xabi Alonso is perfect man for the job
By Dan King
XABI ALONSO ticks almost every box to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, and if Bayer Leverkusen don’t let their lead at the top of the Bundesliga slip the case for him to do so will be irresistible.
The former Kop idol knows the club inside out after five seasons at Anfield and has made no secret of his enduring affection.
Alonso has already forged a reputation as an innovative coach playing an attractive, pressing style, usually in a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation.
He has taken Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to seven-points clear at the top, putting them on course to be crowned German champions for the first time in their 120-year history.
It’s worth remembering that both Rafa Benitez and Klopp arrived at Anfield with proof they could dethrone clubs who dominated their leagues.
For Alonso to do the same, in only his second season as a top-flight manager, would mark him out as something special.
It is that lack of long-term experience that would still make appointing him to replace Klopp a gamble.
But otherwise, he looks like the perfect candidate as Liverpool are forced to plan a future without the man who made them champions of England, Europe and the world.
“There’s no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There’s no chance to do that.
“But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around. I will find something else maybe to do.
“But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible, I cannot do that and I don’t want to. That’s all.”
A number of managers have been tipped as potential replacements for Klopp.
Among these are Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorin and Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi.
Klopp previously lifted the lid on how he told his wife Ulla about his decision.
Klopp’s Liverpool record
Played: 475
Won: 291
Drew: 105
Lost: 79
Trophies:
1x Premier League
1x Champions League
1x FA Cup
2x League Cup
1x Uefa Super Cup
1x Club World Cup
He said: “I tried to describe it already, I had to explain it to Ulla clearly.
“I tried to explain it with, I’m like a proper sports car – not the best one but a pretty good one, can still drive 160, 170, 180 mph but I’m the only one who sees the tank meter is going down.
“The outside world doesn’t see that, that’s good, so you go until as long as we have to go, but then you need a break. In this case, you need to go to the petrol station.
“That’s exactly what I know I have to do, but nobody has to worry until the end of this season, I know that I will be fine until then.”
As for her reaction, he added: “I had to explain it, of course I had to.
“It was not like, ‘Oh, thank God.’ You must not misunderstand. Not at all.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“She asked me why and I explained it like I explain it now to you, with a few more maybe private details, but besides that it was pretty similar.
“And obviously Ulla wants me to do well and be fine, and when she realised that I’m really clear about that – and she knows I don’t take these kind of things lightly – she is happy for me, that I’m happy with the decision. Because that’s the truth.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
