Why I turned down Man United: Jurgen Klopp reveals what he 'didn't like' about his talks to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson - and the two big signings he wouldn't have wanted

Liverpool's legendary former manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he once turned down talks to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Klopp, who left Anfield in the summer of 2024 after nine fruitful years at the club, opened up on his time in Liverpool while appearing on Steve Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast on Monday.

During his chat with the British entrepreneur, the former Reds boss revealed he was approached by Manchester United in 2013 while he was head coach of Borussia Dortmund — but ultimately chose to turn the project down.

Since enjoying a historic era of success under Ferguson, who guided the club to 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and five FA Cups before retiring in 2013, the Red Devils have nosedived dramatically — finishing 15th in the table under Ruben Amorim last season.

Despite winning the odd FA Cup and Europa League trophy, United have slipped further and further away from Premier League success over the past 12 years, with David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag all trying and failing to restore the club to former glories.

Meanwhile, Klopp — who arrived at Anfield in 2015 — helped Liverpool go in the other direction, ending the club's 30-year wait for a top-flight title in 2020 and winning the Champions League the season before.

The team Klopp established at Anfield also enjoyed more success after he left, winning the Premier League again under Arne Slot last campaign.

Revealing he once had an opportunity to join United instead, Klopp said: 'In the year when Sir Alex retired, they spoke to me. Of course, they were interested at one point. At that time, I would have been interested, I was young — I had a sensational team at Dortmund. They probably thought, "What is he doing there?"

'Later on I heard that my players — James Milner and Adam Lallana — they flew to Real Madrid when we (Dortmund) had a semi-final there in the Champions League just to watch us play. "What is Dortmund doing? What football that is". I mean, you cannot get a bigger compliment. 

'United tried (to approach me). It was wrong time, wrong moment. I had a contract at Dortmund and wouldn’t have left for anybody. They wanted a new manager and I was one of a few options I think.'

Asked if he turned Manchester United down rather than the other was around, Klopp replied 'yes' before adding: 'There were some things in the conversations that I didn't like. The idea was that big — "We get all the players we want, we get him, we get him" — and I was sitting there thinking this is not my project. It was the wrong time but on top of that it was not my project.'

In the years following Ferguson's departure, United splashed out on a sea of high-profile stars who struggled to perform at Old Trafford, including the likes of Angel Di Maria, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez. 

The Red Devils also weren't afraid to bring back superstars they once sold, with Paul Pogba returning for a huge £89m in 2016 and Cristiano Ronaldo agreeing to a second stint at Old Trafford in 2021.

Insisting he would not have wanted to sign these players were he manager of United, Klopp said: 'I didn't want to bring back Pogba, he was a sensational player but these things don't work usually. Or Cristiano, we all know he's the best player, together with (Lionel) Messi, in the world but bringing back never helps. 

'In 2013, it was not about Cristiano, maybe about Paul, I'm not even sure, but the idea is we bring the best players together and then let’s go.'

Interjecting, Barlett said: 'So, it wasn't about the football?' 

'Not at all,' Klopp said. 'And that's not for me. Then, a pure football project comes up with Liverpool. And a sensational talk with Mike Gordon. That was really important as well. After that talk, I wanted to be his friend. He's such a good guy.'

Bartlett, a Manchester United fan, went on to ask Klopp why Liverpool's bitter rivals have struggled so much since Ferguson's exit - a question which prompted guffaws of laughter from the German boss. 

'I didn’t think for a second since I joined Liverpool about what Man United did right or wrong. At that moment, I buy into Liverpool and you become our "opponent", one that is more fun to beat than others. With Everton, I know so many Everton fans in Liverpool, I lived their for nine years, great people. But then you go to the game and it's something different. I don't make that up, it's like that.

'Always in football, like in life, you have a problem and you only try to find a solution for now knowing you have another problem two days later. But just find a solution for that problem - there's no point looking to the mid or long-term. 

'At United, we deal with it for a year or two and then we can make a big step. Because you're in such a rush because you want or have to win the next game. When (United) were not happy, they would buy the time.'

Klopp used the example of Manchester United sacking Mourinho, who was axed after finishing second in the Premier League in 2018 — an achievement the Portuguese boss then described as his biggest accomplishment as a manager.

'Jose (Mourinho) finishing second, remember that. At that time, second was not good enough and now you're not even close to that. That's not a Man United story, it's a football story. It's always like that. In the world of football, you win and you are the greatest. You lose and you know nothing about the game. You draw, you're boring.

'It's only about your own idea and what you really want to do and where you want to go. Everything is about development, so the time between now and then counts. A player can score a goal, score five goals, but it won't solve the problem if you have real problems. And I don't know the United problems.'

'United is United, each step is under focus. They won - but he didn’t play great. They win a game but one person doesn't perform well, so let's go for him.  So the coach has to pick him up and say "no no, it's alright" — they are completely different situations. 

'The only problem you have now, in the time you tried to solve your problems all the other clubs have improved their situations. Liverpool have an incredible squad, Arsenal incredible squad, City is City, Chelsea — in that time when everyone's thinking do they have an overview of the transfer market, do they know who they own and loan and stuff like that — somehow it pays off. 

'Already there are four, five clubs above you — but are you happy with position six? No. And there's the problem.'