European club pushing to appoint Jurgen Klopp as next manager | OneFootball

Klopp Tipped as Benfica’s Dream Appointment

According to a report from BILD, Jürgen Klopp is being lined up as a potential future head coach of Benfica. The news comes via Claudia Bothmann, who revealed that presidential candidate Cristóvão Carvalho has Klopp in mind to lead the Portuguese giants should he win the upcoming election.

Carvalho made his intentions clear when speaking to SIC Noticias: “Bruno Lage wouldn’t stay with me beyond his contract (which ends in summer 2026; ed.). I need a world-class coach, one who has already won the Champions League and who wants to win the Champions League with Benfica. Only one name comes to mind: Jürgen Klopp.”

Benfica’s Bold Presidential Vision

Bruno Lage may have started the new season strongly with three wins from three, but Carvalho has publicly confirmed his desire for change. His vision hinges on the attraction of a manager with Klopp’s pedigree.

The 58-year-old German is currently Global Sports Director at Red Bull, a role he only began in January 2025 and is contracted to until 2029. As BILD note, Klopp hasn’t shown much appetite for an immediate return to the dugout. That makes Benfica’s pursuit an ambitious, if somewhat unlikely, proposition.

Photo: IMAGO

Klopp’s Glittering Legacy

Carvalho’s admiration is rooted in Klopp’s illustrious career. At Liverpool, he secured the Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, while also making history at Borussia Dortmund with Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs.

Carvalho added: “He even said that Benfica is a great club that he would like to coach one day. Someone who says that cares more about the club than anyone else.”

It’s worth recalling Klopp’s comments after Liverpool faced Benfica in 2022. The then Reds boss said: “Good heavens! This is the Champions League quarterfinals. Benfica wasn’t drawn into it, but survived a super-tough group and eliminated one of the most exciting teams in Europe, Ajax Amsterdam.” Those words may still resonate with the Benfica faithful today.

Carvalho’s Klopp Dream

While Carvalho’s vision is clear, the reality is complicated. Klopp’s current commitment to Red Bull suggests he may not be tempted so soon. Yet, Carvalho’s belief in Benfica’s potential under Klopp is unwavering. Should his presidency bid succeed, fans could be in for an intriguing saga.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, the notion of Jürgen Klopp coaching Benfica is fascinating, if difficult to picture in the short term. Klopp has only just stepped away from the intensity of club management, and his move into the Red Bull Global Sports Director role seemed to underline his desire for a new challenge away from the touchline.

Still, Carvalho’s comments speak volumes about Klopp’s enduring reputation. For Liverpool fans, it’s a reminder of just how transformative he was during his Anfield tenure. The Portuguese presidential hopeful’s statement, “Only one name comes to mind: Jürgen Klopp,” mirrors how many Reds supporters felt for nearly a decade – that Klopp was the ultimate leader.

On a practical level, it seems highly improbable that Klopp would abandon a long-term project with Red Bull to immediately return to the dugout. Liverpool fans will remember he always spoke of the need for personal balance and hinted at a lengthy break from coaching after his exit. That makes Carvalho’s plan sound more like a campaign headline than a concrete possibility.

However, the romantic side of football cannot be dismissed. Klopp’s admiration for Benfica, expressed back in 2022, shows genuine respect. If he ever returned to coaching outside of Germany or England, Portugal could make sense. For Liverpool fans, it would be bittersweet – pride in seeing their former manager courted by another European giant, but also a reminder of what they lost.

Ultimately, Benfica’s pursuit highlights Klopp’s unparalleled standing in modern football. Whether he says yes or no, his name still inspires headlines, debate and dreams – and Liverpool supporters know exactly why.