Bayern Munich honorary chairman Uli Hoeness believes Jurgen Klopp will soon return to the management team as he appeared to have left the door open for a return to Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp insists he has no plans to return to management, but the former Liverpool manager has been linked with a return. After a successful nine-year spell at Anfield, which ended in the 2023/24 season, Klopp became Red Bull Group’s head of global football in January 2025.
Last month, he also joined the German Football League (DFL)’s expert group, which aims to strengthen the country’s football. Klopp also recently announced his intention to sign with Magenta TV and serve as a commentator at the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Despite hinting at a return to the sidelines, he quickly quashed any hints of a return to management.
However, Bayern Munich honorary chairman Uli Hoeneß believes Klopp will soon return to his roots as a manager and has expressed doubts about the German’s long-term commitment to the Red Bull Group.
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“I never could have imagined that he would be an official who travels around the country and New York looking after different teams,” Hoeness told the OMR podcast, as reported by Tagesspiegel. “And I don’t think that’s a good model in the long run. I also don’t think he’ll do it forever, I can’t imagine.
“I’ve always respected Jurgen Klopp as a coach who develops his team on the pitch and uses his personality to propel them forward. I see Jurgen Klopp on the pitch, but nowhere else.”
Rumors swirled last month when Klopp refused to completely rule out the possibility of an eventual return to the Liverpool managerial reins, but speculation has intensified in recent weeks as the Reds continue to struggle under Arne Slott.
“I said I would never coach another team in England,” he revealed on the CEO Diary podcast. “I mean, if it’s Liverpool, yes. So theoretically it’s possible.”
Nevertheless, in the same interview he emphasized that he does not aspire to management and is happy with his position at the Red Bull Group.
Furthermore, Klopp revealed his true feelings and reservations about a potential return to his former club when discussing the Red Devils’ decision to re-sign Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as his choice to reject an offer from Manchester United before joining Liverpool.
“It’s difficult. We’re not in a private space, but there are several reasons other than the people participating in the conversation that I didn’t like,” he explained. “So United were such a big team that we were like, ‘We’re going to get all the players we want, we’re going to get him, we’re going to get him, we’re going to get him.’ And I was sitting there like, ‘What?’
“This wasn’t my project, it didn’t feel like my project, it was the wrong time, but on top of that it wasn’t my project. I didn’t want to bring (Paul) Pogba back. Pogba is a sensational player, but these things usually don’t work out.
“Or Cristiano (Ronaldo), we all know he is the best player in the world along with (Lionel) Messi. Bringing him back never helps. Back in 2013, it wasn’t about Cristiano, it probably wasn’t about Paul. I don’t know, but the idea was: ‘Let’s get the best players and go with it.’
“I had no interest in[football]at all, so I was sitting there like it wasn’t for me. Then a pure football project came up and I ended up having a sensational conversation with Mike Gordon[President of Fenway Sports Group]which is also very important.”
“He’s the owner, but after I told him I wanted to be friends with John (Henry) and Tom (Werner) and Mike, he was such a nice guy. After that, it was very special.”
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