The former Liverpool manager is committed to his plan of taking a full year off before contemplating a return to work. Jürgen Klopp's current focus is on his sabbatical, and he will not be available to replace Gareth Southgate in time for the World Cup qualifiers, as he does not plan to return to high-level management for another year.
Klopp had announced upon his departure from Anfield that he would take at least a year's break and would not be joining any club or national federation during this period. Despite being a favored candidate to succeed Southgate after his resignation as England coach, Klopp's stance remains the same, with no chance of a change in decision.
Klopp will be ready to consider management roles again in July 2025, which means the Football Association would need to start their World Cup qualification with a temporary manager before considering the possibility of Klopp leading in the run-up to the 2026 tournament. However, there is no certainty that Klopp would accept the position, as his primary focus is on his sabbatical, and any approach from England is currently speculative.
Mark Bullingham, the FA chief executive, stated, "The process for appointing Gareth’s successor has begun, and we aim to confirm our new manager as soon as possible. Our UEFA Nations League campaign begins in September, and we have an interim solution ready if necessary."
Klopp was approached by the United States to replace Gregg Berhalter but did not engage in formal talks with the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup. When announcing his exit from Liverpool in January, Klopp expressed a depletion of energy but confirmed he was fine at the moment.
