Jurgen Klopp has turned down an offer from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to take over as head coach of the men’s national team following the sacking of Gregg Berhalter.
According to sources close to the matter, Klopp was initially approached about the possibility of leading the USMNT, but reiterated that he would like to take a break from football. Despite this, US Soccer remains interested in hiring the 57-year-old Klopp to be their next head coach, according to sources.
Berhalter was sacked on Wednesday following the USMNT’s disappointing group stage exit at the Copa America, held on home soil this summer.
Klopp formally resigned as Liverpool manager in May, ending his transformative nine-year tenure at Anfield which saw him win eight major honours.
Announcing his decision to leave in January, he said: “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 the fact that I made this decision shows I am convinced this is the decision I have to make.”
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“It’s because I’m running out of energy. I’m okay now, obviously, I already knew I’d have to announce it at some point, but I’m fine now. I know I can’t go on and on.”
Klopp has had a successful run at Anfield (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Under his leadership, Liverpool secured their first Premier League title in 30 years and won their first Champions League since 2005 when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur in 2019.
Klopp has been approached as the United States prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which it will co-host with Canada and Mexico, aiming to improve on a last-16 exit in Qatar 18 months ago.
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US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker stressed the urgency of the search for a coach following Berhalter’s dismissal, which was made after a “comprehensive review” of the team’s performance at the Copa America.
“Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximise our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process,” he added.
Berhalter’s resignation comes after a mixed tenure that included both accomplishments and controversies.
His reappointment last summer came as a surprise, despite leading the USMNT to the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup and winning two Concacaf Nations League titles and a Gold Cup. Issues with key players, including a high-profile clash with young star Gio Reyna and a number of disappointing results culminating in Copa America disappointment, ultimately led to his dismissal.
The USMNT’s Copa América campaign saw them beat Bolivia 2–0, 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 performance in the tournament 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)
