Jurgen Klopp has been put forward as a surprise candidate to manage the United States national team by former Manchester United and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard. The ex-Liverpool boss has been enjoying his free time since waving an emotional goodbye to the Reds at the end of last season.
Klopp has devoted much of his time to playing padel, a racket sport which bears similarities to tennis or squash and is popular in Europe. He was also spotted attending the Champions League final to watch Borussia Dortmund, one of his former clubs, take on Real Madrid.
The 57-year-old has made it clear that he will not be taking another job in football any time soon, but Howard believes he would be the ideal candidate to succeed Gregg Berhalter as manager of the United States national team.
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Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Howard said: "I believe I could make a very compelling argument to Jurgen Klopp to take over the US men’s national team.
"After the disappointment of Copa America, after the United States lost to Uruguay and exited at the group stages, I will personally fly to Spain. I mean it. I know Klopp has only been retired a few weeks and I know he wants a break, but if we sat around his villa in Spain, I think I could lure him over here."
Howard went on to list a multitude of reasons why the United States job would be the perfect role for Klopp when he eventually decides to return to the dugout.
"My pitch would be simple," he continued. "He has a young group of players who can play progressive, front-foot soccer, exactly like his Liverpool teams, and in two years’ time he can go to the biggest World Cup in history.
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"Plus, it’s international soccer, so there’s no need to be on the training ground every day. He doesn’t even have to worry about qualification. That's what I would do if I was running US Soccer, anyway.
"If they decide that Gregg Berhalter cannot survive this Copa America campaign, if they decide another manager must lead the USMNT into a home World Cup in 2026, then they have to go for the jackpot. It’s a risk, of course.
"No doubt some coaches will look at the US and see a payday and a comfy life, so you can’t just go for any big-name boss. You need someone with high expectations, a clear vision and a clear path. Someone who is demanding of themselves as well as their team. Someone like Jurgen Klopp."
It would certainly be a surprise for Klopp to take charge of the United States, given that he is likely to want a higher-profile job when he decides to return to management. It would be a real test of his credentials to lead them into a home World Cup, where they will be fighting to make it out of the group stages.
