Wayne Rooney has made no secret of his appreciation for Jürgen Klopp, describing the former Liverpool manager as the one coach from Anfield he would genuinely have wanted to work under — a remarkable admission from a man who spent his career at two of Liverpool’s fiercest rivals.
Speaking on the BBC’s “Wayne Rooney Show”, England’s record goalscorer was careful to qualify his admiration. “Klopp was the only Liverpool manager I’d have loved to play for,” Rooney said, before quickly adding, “Not for Liverpool, of course.” The clarification was characteristic of Rooney, who made his name at Everton before becoming one of the defining figures of the Manchester United era.
Rooney’s comments extended beyond personal sentiment, as he drew a direct comparison between Klopp and his successor at Anfield, Arne Slot. While Slot guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in his debut 2024/25 season, he has encountered a more turbulent second campaign. For Rooney, the distinction between the two managers goes beyond tactical output. “I’ve said before that Arne Slot doesn’t have the aura that Klopp has,” he explained. “What Klopp brought to the table, even just walking around a restaurant with a bottle of beer — that’s what the people of Liverpool love.”
Klopp’s standing in English football was forged across a nine-year tenure at Anfield, during which he delivered both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League — ending a 30-year wait for a top-flight league championship at the club. He departed at the end of the 2023/24 season, citing the need for personal renewal after an emotionally and physically demanding spell in management.
Following an extended period away from the game, Klopp returned to football in a non-dugout capacity, taking on the role of Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull — a position that places him in an overarching footballing advisory role across the Red Bull network of clubs rather than in direct team management. His comeback has nonetheless reignited speculation about a return to frontline coaching, with reports linking him to Real Madrid as the Spanish giants reportedly assess their managerial options ahead of next season.
For Rooney, now navigating his own path in management after spells in charge of Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City, and Plymouth Argyle, the admiration for Klopp appears rooted in the German’s ability to connect with players and supporters on a human level — a quality that transcends results. Klopp’s high-energy, emotionally engaged style of leadership produced not only trophies at Liverpool but a cultural shift at the club that his successors are still measured against.
Whether Klopp returns to club management in the near future remains unclear, but Rooney’s remarks reflect a broader consensus within the game: that the 57-year-old German remains one of the most compelling managerial figures of the modern era.
