Jürgen Klopp has moved to put any speculation about a lasting falling-out with Mohamed Salah firmly to rest, revealing that the pair now share a close friendship in the aftermath of their respective departures from Liverpool.
Speaking to ESPN in a candid interview, the former Reds manager — who currently holds the position of head of global soccer at Red Bull — reflected on the inherent complexities of managing elite players. “We are friends now,” Klopp said. “While you’re working together, players sometimes think I’m not even their friend because I have to make some decisions they don’t like. But the good thing is it’s all past… The strongest thing in life is good memories.”
The comments carry particular weight given the well-documented friction that surfaced between the two towards the end of their time together at Anfield. A flashpoint came in April 2024, when a visible touchline altercation occurred during a 2-2 Premier League draw against West Ham United — an incident that drew widespread scrutiny and fuelled narratives of a fractured relationship.
Yet Klopp’s remarks suggest that whatever tensions arose during the final chapter of his nine-year tenure at Liverpool have since given way to mutual respect and warmth. Salah, who joined the club in the summer of 2017, completed a nine-year spell on Merseyside before his departure, cementing his status as one of the Premier League’s most decorated wingers of the modern era.
The achievements the two oversaw together at Liverpool remain among the most celebrated in the club’s history. Under Klopp’s management, with Salah as one of the side’s most decisive attackers, Liverpool claimed the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League title before ending a 30-year wait for a top-flight English league title by winning the 2019/20 Premier League. The pair also contributed to victories in the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup during that period.
Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, with Arne Slot subsequently appointed as his successor. The Dutchman guided the club to the Premier League title in his debut campaign, with Salah — despite the contract uncertainty that had dominated headlines throughout much of that season — contributing significantly before eventually departing at the conclusion of his deal.
Now operating in his executive role at Red Bull, overseeing a global network of football clubs that includes RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls among others, Klopp has maintained a relatively measured public profile since leaving frontline management. His latest remarks, however, offer a rare and direct account of how his personal relationships with former players have evolved beyond the pressures of professional football.
For Salah, the post-Liverpool chapter is also underway, with the Egyptian international having moved on following the expiration of his contract. His legacy at Anfield — which includes multiple Premier League Golden Boot awards and records for goals scored as a foreign player in the competition — ensures his place in the club’s history is secure regardless of how his final months unfolded.
