Indian Clarity

Light. Truth. Clarity.

Loading ad...
Sports

'I never felt like a world-class coach', says Jurgen Klopp

Story byFormer Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is now the global head of football at Red Bull (STR) (STR/APA/AFP)Daniel WIGHTONMon, January 19, 2026 at 5:29 AM UTC·4 min readDespite leaving Liverpool as one of the most highly regarded coaches in world football in 2024, Jurgen Klopp said he never thought of himself as amongst the game's best."I never considered myself a world-class coach," Klopp told AFP and other media in an interview in Leipzig, "because I still had so many questions when I finished."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I was like 'how can I be world-class with these questions still?'"After starting out at Mainz, where he took the club to the top flight for the first time, Klopp moved to Borussia Dortmund, where he won two Bundesliga titles and reached the 2013 Champions League final. After signing with Liverpool in 2015, Klopp's Reds won every trophy on offer, including the Champions League and Premier League. In his new role as Red Bull's global head of football, where he oversees a multi-club structure with teams including RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls and Paris FC, Klopp said that he wants to help coaches answer those questions. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"My role with the coaches is to be the guy I never had. I sat in my office very, very, very often, very, very, very alone."A lot of people gave me advice and have great ideas... It's great to have ideas, but it's really not that easy to make the final decision."I want to be in moments when I know they are alone, or feel alone.

'I never felt like a world-class coach', says Jurgen Klopp

Credit: Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is now the global head of football at Red Bull (STR)

Key Highlights

  • I want to be there."Klopp oversaw the firing of then-Leipzig coach Marco Rose, a long-time friend, in 2025 and said that being on the other side felt odd."Grave-digger of the coaches -- that's a title I never wanted to win!"- 'I never watch the goals back' -AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFrom taking Mainz to the Bundesliga to breaking Liverpool's Premier League drought, Klopp improved clubs and players wherever he went. Often taking over with teams at a low ebb, the coach would try and put things in perspective."How did I start a game?
  • I would say 'the worst news is you can lose it' -- so let's try and win it...
  • Do not try to avoid defeat -- try to win."The coach said he told his players: "Giving your all doesn't mean you will get anything, but it's your only chance to get something.
  • That's pretty much how you do it."We gave everything -- and sometimes we got something."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKlopp said that media and fans were too focused on results."I never watch the goals back, because I want to understand the game to the left and the right of the result."I want to understand why it happened...
  • Results are the result of the performance.
Loading ad...

Sources

  1. 'I never felt like a world-class coach', says Jurgen Klopp

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

Related Stories

Loading ad...