Jurgen Klopp has turned down an approach from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to take over as head coach of the men’s national team following the sacking of Greg Berhalder.
There was initial contact with Klopp about the possibility of leading the USMNT, but he reiterated his desire to retire from football, according to sources close to the club. Nonetheless, US Soccer is interested in making the 57-year-old their next head coach.
Berhalter was sacked on Wednesday following the USMNT’s exit from the group stages of this summer’s Copa America on home soil.
Klopp formally left as Liverpool manager in May, ending a nine-year tenure at Anfield that saw him win eight major honours.
“I love 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 I’m still making this decision, I’m sure it’s the decision I have to make,” He said when he announced his exit in January.
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“I’m running out of energy. I don’t have any problems now, obviously, I already knew I would have to announce it at some point, but I’m fine now. I know I can’t do that job over and over again.
Klopp has enjoyed a successful spell at Anfield (Michael Regan/Getty Images).
Under his leadership, Liverpool won their first Premier League title in 30 years and won the Champions League for the first time in 2005, defeating Tottenham Hotspur in 2019.
The approach for Klopp comes as the U.S. prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which it will co-host with Canada and Mexico, looking to improve on their round-of-16 exit in Qatar 18 months ago.
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US Soccer’s sporting director, Matt Crocker, stressed the urgency of their coaching search following Berhalter’s dismissal, which came after 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 started our search,” he said.
Berhalter’s exit follows a mixed tenure marked by achievements and controversy.
Despite leading the USMNT to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup and winning two CONCACAF Nations League titles and a Gold Cup, his reappointment last summer came as a surprise. Problems with key players, including a high-profile clash with young star Gio Reina and lackluster results culminating in a Copa America disappointment, eventually saw him fired.
The USMNT’s Copa America campaign ended with a 2–0 win over Bolivia, but losses to Panama and Uruguay led to an early exit, becoming the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage since the tournament adopted a single-host nation format in 1987.
Reflecting on the performance, Crocker said: “Our tournament performance fell short of our expectations. We have to do better.”
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Additional reporting: Greg O’Keefe and James Pearce
(Top photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
