Jürgen Klopp and FC Bayern – a constellation that has been discussed time and again over the years, but never became reality. Now his long-time advisor Mark Kosicke, of all people, has provided new insights. In an interview with Transfermarkt.de, the agent confirmed that there were indeed concrete approaches between the German record champions and Klopp. FCB had been „very close“ on two occasions
Kosicke was asked whether Klopp would have been a good fit for Munich – after all, the relationship between Bayern and the former BVB coach had long been considered tense. His answer was clear: „I don’t see why it wouldn’t have been a good fit. Jürgen likes to eat pretzels and had a wheat beer partner in Erdinger. He has always worked with strong personalities. I wouldn’t have seen a problem there,“ explained Kosicke in an interview with Transfermarkt
Hoeneß wanted Klopp – Rummenigge wanted Klinsmann
A look back to 2008 is particularly explosive. At that time, FC Bayern was faced with a decision on the direction of the coaching bench. According to Kosicke, Uli Hoeneß wanted to sign Klopp, while Karl-Heinz Rummenigge backed Jürgen Klinsmann. In the end, Rummenigge got his preferred candidate – with a well-known outcome. Klinsmann’s time in Munich ended after just a few months
The second approach followed in autumn 2019 after the separation from Niko Kovac. But this time, too, it didn’t come to a big coup. Klopp was under contract with Liverpool FC at the time and was on his way to making history with the Reds. „But Jürgen was at Liverpool at the time and was also approached. Nobody thought that things would be so successful with Hansi Flick,“ says Kosicke
Timing as a decisive factor
According to Klopp’s advisor, the core of the missed collaboration lies in the right timing – or lack thereof. „There was simply never the right momentum,“ Kosicke clarified. Sometimes there was a lack of internal consensus, sometimes the sporting situation was not right, sometimes Klopp was tied up elsewhere
Looking back, it seems like one of those parallel stories in soccer that are always a topic of conversation, especially in view of Klopp’s successful era at Liverpool and Bayern’s later title-winning years under Flick, the question inevitably arises as to what a joint future would have looked like
Today, Klopp is global head of soccer at Red Bull and thus far removed from day-to-day business in the Bundesliga. FC Bayern, on the other hand, has embarked on a new sporting course under Vincent Kompany.
