The German coach, who stepped down from Liverpool in 2024, has suggested that a future comeback remains something that could happen. The 58-year-old, following a hugely successful nine-season tenure which brought Champions League success and ending the club's long wait since 1990, has since taken on positions in a global football capacity for Red Bull and as an advisor with the German Football League.
They secured England's top flight under Arne Slot, but many fans who adore the manager would be thrilled by the idea that he might come back one day. During an extensive chat, he told Steven Bartlett: “I stated I will never coach any other side within the country. So that means if then it’s Liverpool...yeah. Theoretically it’s possible.”
“Being 58, so I could make the decision in a few years, who knows. Do I have to make the decision today? In that case, I'd stay away. Luckily, it's not necessary. I can just see how things unfold.”
Pressed on the specific conditions would need to occur to bring him back to the dugout, he revealed he was not instantly drawn for a comeback. “I'm not entirely sure, I enjoy my current role,” he stated. “No longing for management; I don’t miss standing under bad weather through long matches; I'm glad to skip interviews four times, three times a week or doing numerous chats weekly.
“No nostalgia for the changing area as a dressing room, but sitting in a restaurant with the team talking freely, I appreciate that. Success was frequent meaning regularly great spirits at the club. I can still hear Van Dijk's laughter in my ear for example.”
He commended of the current boss, crediting him due to the changes that won the league in the previous season. The team has suffered a string of losses in every contest post heavy investment, yet he dismissed the suggestion it could be a slump.
“[Liverpool have] an incredible striker such as Wirtz, doubters will be silenced with negative comments. A remarkable prospect. The French striker, superb talent. It’s a really good thoughtfully assembled roster. Fans shouldn't fret about Liverpool, they'll bounce back.”
He shared movingly about the death of Jota, whom he brought in in 2020, along with the consequences at the club. Jota lost his life in a road accident with his brother recently.
“How do you replace somebody like Diogo? This isn't just regarding his on-field talent, it's his character. I can’t imagine the squad absent his presence. Putting it into words is tough on this topic. A profound tragedy for the entire squad also. No one within the club might employ it as an excuse yet it's the reality. Being in that space which he filled completely. Dealing with that on a personal level is difficult. Unbearable.”
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