Jurgen Klopp has reportedly turned down the opportunity to manage the USA national team following the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter.
The United States Soccer Federation confirmed on Wednesday that Berhalter has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect following the country's disappointing group-stage exit from the 2024 Copa America held on home soil.
Berhalter had two stints in charge of the Stars and Stripes, the first of which ended in 2022 before returning in August last year, winning seven, drawing one and losing six of his 14 games at the helm.
USA have since been surprisingly linked with Liverpool legend Klopp, with a report from The Athletic claiming that initial contact was made to the German regarding the possibility of leading the USMNT.
The approach to Klopp comes as USA prepare to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, with their aim to improve on their last-16 exit at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
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Former USA and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard recently vowed to do everything possible to convince Klopp to take the national team job, telling the Daily Mail: "The money is certainly there.
"My pitch would be simple: he has a young group of players who can play progressive, front-foot soccer - exactly like his Liverpool teams. And in two years' time he can go to the biggest World Cup in history."
"I am willing to help my country in any way I can," Howard added. "Proud to serve. So if I was in charge of US Soccer right now, I'd be on my way to the airport.
"Why? Because I believe I could make a very compelling argument to Jurgen Klopp to take over the US Men's National Team.
"After the disappointment of Copa America, after the United States lost to Uruguay and exited at the group stages, I will personally fly to Spain. I mean it."
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Klopp rejects USA managerial offer
However, Howard's efforts were in vain, as The Athletic reports that Klopp has rebuffed an approach from the USA and has reiterated his desire to take an extended break from football.
Klopp departed Liverpool at the end of last season, bringing the curtain down on a glittering nine-year spell in charge at Anfield, and revealed when his departure was confirmed in January that he has been "running out of energy."
The 57-year-old etched his name into Liverpool folklore when he secured the club's first Premier League title in 30 years in 2019-20, before steering the Reds to their first Champions League trophy since 2005 after beating Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 final.
Klopp won a total of eight major honours as Liverpool boss and has departed the Merseyside giants with the highest win rate of any manager in the club's history across all competitions (60.9%).
The former Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund boss was heavily linked with the Germany job earlier this year, before Julian Nagelsmann took the reins and led the national team to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024.
Oliver Thomas
