What Jurgen Klopp said about US as former Liverpool boss linked with management return

Ex- Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a return to management to coach the United States .

With the Copa America currently being played across the pond in the US, the USMNT had hoped to put in a strong showing at the tournament, just two years before they, alongside Mexico and Canada, host the 2026 World Cup.

However, what transpired was a tournament of national embarrassment. Instead of making it out of their group, which included Uruguay, Bolivia and Panama, the USMNT finished third. While they won their opening game 2-0 against Bolivia, they lost 2-1 to Panama, and fell 1-0 to Darwin Nunez's Uruguay, seeing the tournament hosts dumped out of the competition .

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In the aftermath of the result against Uruguay, coach Gregg Berhalter has come under significant fire for the USA's Copa America performances, with fans calling for him to be sacked.

And should US officials decide to sack Berhalter, they could look to try and pull off a major coup with their next appointment in the form of ex-Liverpool boss Klopp. Back in January, when the German announced he would leave Liverpool at the end of last season, it was reported by the Athletic that Klopp would consider a move into international management to coach Germany or potentially the USMNT.

While Klopp sighted burnout as his reason for exiting stage left at Anfield in May, the chance to coach at a World Cup, with a significantly reduced fixture schedule in the build-up to 2026 could appeal to the former Reds boss, who has spoken warmly in the past about America during Liverpool's pre-season trips to the US.

Speaking to Liverpool.com back in 2019, Klopp revealed he was delighted fans in the US got to see Liverpool in action. That summer, the Reds played three pre-season friendly fixtures over in America, facing off against Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Sporting Lisbon.

"We have to come here, we know that," Klopp previously told Liverpool.com . "We have a lot of supporters in America, Boston especially, our owner city if you want. We have no problem coming here, we have no problem going wherever the club wants us to go. That's how it is. After that, the camp in Evian will be very, very important as well.

"Here it is about games and playing in difficult circumstances. But we are not superstitious. At least I'm not, that we go to America again because at the end of the season last time we won something.

"It's good. But we have to show up from time to time to our fans in America because they rarely have a chance to see us live. And if they want to watch us on the television, they usually have to be up really early. So it's good that we can show up for them."