Jurgen Klopp has declined an approach from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to become the next head coach of the men’s national team.
Following Gregg Berhalter’s dismissal, initial discussions were held with Klopp, who expressed a desire for a break from football.
Despite Klopp’s reluctance, US Soccer remains interested in appointing the 57-year-old as their next head coach.
Berhalter’s tenure came to an end on Wednesday following the USMNT’s disappointing exit in the group stage of this summer’s Copa America, hosted on home soil.
Jurgen Klopp formally ended his nine-year stint as Liverpool manager in May, during which he led the club to eight major honours.
Reflecting on his departure earlier in the year, Klopp expressed deep affection for Liverpool and their supporters but acknowledged his need for a break due to exhaustion.
“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take,” he said upon announcing his exit in January.
“It is that I am running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now.
“I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again
During his time at Liverpool, Klopp guided the Reds to their first Premier League title in 30 years and secured the Champions League trophy in 2019 by defeating Tottenham Hotspur.
The approach to Jurgen Klopp comes as the U.S. prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which it will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico, aiming to improve on their round-of-16 exit in Qatar 18 months ago.
Matt Crocker, U.S. Soccer’s sporting director, stressed the urgency of finding a new coach following Berhalter’s departure, which followed a comprehensive review of the team’s performance at the Copa America.
“Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process,” he stated.
Berhalter’s departure concludes a tenure marked by both notable achievements and controversies.
During his time as head coach, Berhalter guided the USMNT to the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup and secured two CONCACAF Nations League titles along with a Gold Cup victory.
However, his unexpected reappointment last summer raised eyebrows amid ongoing issues with key players, notably a publicized conflict involving young star Gio Reyna.
Subsequent underwhelming performances culminated in disappointment at the Copa America, ultimately leading to his dismissal.
The USMNT managed a 2-0 victory over Bolivia in their Copa America campaign but suffered defeats to Panama and Uruguay, resulting in an early exit.
This made them the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage since the tournament adopted a single-host format in 1987.
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