JURGEN KLOPP reportedly held “multiple meetings” with USA national team chiefs before Mauricio Pochettino landed the job.
The former Chelsea boss is back in business after stepping into the world of international management.
Poch has been tasked with picking up the pieces of the USA’s dismal Copa America group stage exit on home soil.
And he will now be hoping to create a side worthy of making a splash when the USA co-host the World Cup in 2026.
However, the Athletic claims Pochettino was not the only big-name candidate in the crosshairs of USA big-wigs.
Following Gregg Berhalter’s sacking in July, one name that stood out to chiefs was ex-Liverpool boss Klopp.
The German had only just stepped away from Anfield after nearly nine years at the helm.
And Klopp was adamant he wanted to take 12 months out from the beautiful game despite vacancies at clubs like Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
However, that did not stop the USA from pursuing him.
It’s claimed that “multiple meetings” were held with the Premier League and Champions League winner in an attempt to lure him out of his sabbatical.
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But while Klopp was ready to entertain initial talks, he rejected the opportunity to return to the limelight.
It saw the USA put Pochettino at the top of their wish list following his Chelsea exit.
Yet there were other huge names under examination too.
It’s claimed that Man City’s Pep Guardiola, former England boss Gareth Southgate, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and ex-Chelsea manager Graham Potter were also shortlisted as candidates.
US chiefs conducted “deep dives” on each coach to examine playing styles and systems.
While they received “overwhelmingly positive” responses when making initial calls.
But it was Pochettino who emerged as the preferred target after impressing at his first meeting, which turned from an initial 90 minute talk into a four-hour tactical bonanza.
It’s also added that USA Women’s boss Emma Hayes was a strong advocate for Pochettino after the pair became friends during their brief time together at Chelsea.
She equally sold Poch on life in the USA national set-up, with Hayes already making a huge impact after leading the women to Olympics glory in Paris.
By Dave Kidd
NOW we know Jurgen Klopp’s final major trophy haul at Liverpool — one Champions League, one Premier League, one FA Cup, two League Cups and (if you must) a World Club Cup.
But where does his reign stand among the greatest of the Premier League era?
In black-and-white terms, Klopp is way behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola, the only two men to have won multiple Premier Leagues and a Champions League at the same club.
Those two sit alongside Brian Clough, Bob Paisley and Sir Matt Busby as the undoubted all-time managerial greats of the English game.
But Klopp ranks in the next tier down — with Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho (the Chelsea version), Bill Shankly and Don Revie.
These were all men with the strength of character to transform their clubs in their own image and enjoy success but who did not win as much as they might have done.
Had Klopp managed to keep his intentions under wraps and ended up with another title, perhaps even a treble or quadruple, he’d have edged himself up into that highest echelon with Ferguson, Guardiola, Clough, Paisley and Busby.
But deciding the timing and the manner of your exit is one of the toughest calls for any manager or sportsman.
Klopp got it wrong.
Read Dave Kidd’s take on Klopp’s demise in full here.
Or click here to check out all of Dave Kidd’s articles.
