ไทย
English
中國人
Jürgen Klopp has been presented with a potential pathway back into football management, one that could see the Liverpool icon taking up a new position in the French capital.
However, the offer isn't coming from reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain — it's from the lesser-known Ligue 1 outfit Paris FC.
Paris FC only made their return to France's top division this season after a 46-year hiatus. The club's women's team has historically been the more accomplished side, having absorbed and rebranded an established D1 outfit, consistently qualifying for the Champions League and claiming the French Cup last season.
The men's team finished 11th in Ligue 1 this season — a solid showing — but have yet to claim a major honor. Now, after a steady ascent through the lower tiers of French football, the club is ready to pursue loftier ambitions following the 2024 takeover by the billionaire Arnault family.
Champions League qualification is the stated goal, which would demand a significant shake-up of the established hierarchy in France — this season's top seven of PSG, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes and Monaco have accounted for 26 of the last 30 league titles.
But should Paris FC manage to reach that milestone, majority owner Antoine Arnault believes it could be enough to attract Klopp.
"Who wouldn't dream of having Jürgen?" the fashion mogul told AFTER FOOT. "Of course, one day, we dream of seeing him. It won't happen in the near future because he doesn't want to return to the dugout straight away, but perhaps in three, four or five years...
"If we qualify for the Champions League, I would love to persuade him to come and manage our club."
Could Paris FC Actually Hire Jürgen Klopp?
Klopp has been away from management since departing Liverpool in the summer of 2024, citing dwindling energy reserves after 23 back-to-back seasons at the helm of three separate clubs. The German has continually been linked with a return to the dugout, with Real Madrid generating the loudest speculation — rumors Klopp has consistently dismissed.
Crucially, Klopp never completely closed the door on returning to management. Reports emerged from Germany in January, when Xabi Alonso was dismissed by Los Blancos, suggesting the 58-year-old would have given serious thought to an approach had one materialized. What frustrated Klopp was the "nonsense" media circus surrounding his supposed appointment when no contact had actually been made.
While Klopp has no immediate intentions, he offered a telling hint earlier this year that a comeback may not be too far off: "I'm not quite finished as a coach yet."
Klopp ranks among the finest managers of the modern era and will inevitably feature in discussions whenever a top-level vacancy, such as Real Madrid, arises. But there's another reason why a move to Paris FC may not be as far-fetched as it first appears.
When the Arnault family acquired a controlling stake of just over 50% in the club, another minority investor also came on board: Red Bull. The energy drink giant purchased a stake of just under 11% to further broaden its global sports portfolio.
This detail carries particular significance given Klopp's current role, having been appointed Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer within months of leaving Liverpool. The existing connection makes Paris FC's pursuit of Klopp considerably less of a stretch, given he's already part of the same broader family.