Jurgen Klopp turned down the USMNT manager gig because he's Jurgen Klopp and they're U.S. Soccer
This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Robert Zeglinski on Jurgen Klopp spurning the USMNT
Jurgen Klopp may have ended his legendary tenure at Liverpool, but that doesn't mean he's permanently retired from coaching soccer. He even clarified as much after leaving the Mighty Reds. If anything, you can expect to see the iconic manager roaming someone else's sideline sometime in the near future. You can't keep brilliant tacticians and motivators from the game they love forever.
But let's not kid ourselves.
Klopp was never, ever going to manage the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT). For a little longer, it will have to live with its deflating failure with Gregg Berhalter and a current "Golden Generation" in the loosest sense of the phase.
On Thursday, The Athletic's David Ornstein reported that the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) formally reached out to Klopp about taking on its fledgling men's program. Klopp, ever the classy and charismatic man he is, politely declined the opportunity, citing that he still really wants a "break" from managing.
"Jurgen Klopp has rebuffed an approach from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to take over as the men’s national team head coach following the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter.
Initial contact was made with Klopp regarding the possibility of leading the USMNT but he reiterated that he would like a break from football, according to sources privy to the matter. Despite that, interest remains, sources add, from US Soccer in making the 57-year-old their next head coach."
Wait, the USMNT is still going after Klopp after he said no? Yikes.
OK, let's distance ourselves from the general report now.
None of that revelation is surprising. At the time of publishing, Klopp has been on formal vacation for less than two months. When he said he wanted to step away for a while, that probably meant missing at least one entire Premier League or Bundesliga season, which would both end sometime next late spring. Almost anyone touching base with Klopp right now would have likely run into a brick wall that was still letting off steam from a tense, pressure-filled job.
That said, I find it hard to believe that Klopp wouldn't have ended his self-imposed hiatus for a golden international opportunity. While none of these global soccer powers need a manager right now, in a hypothetical scenario, I find it very easy to imagine Klopp quickly signing on the dotted line for Germany, Spain, or even England. Those are attractive jobs with coherent national programs that have a solid, well-established structure and plan.
The man revitalized Borussia Dortmund and led Liverpool to its first Premier League title in three decades and its first Champions League victory in 14 years. Klopp is way overdue for a massive step up, particularly in an international context.
The USMNT does not qualify as a step up. It is a job firmly beneath Klopp and his pedigree.
Frankly, it's practically insulting that the U.S. really thought it could lure over one of the best managers in the world -- in the middle of a well-earned vacation, no less -- halfway through a World Cup cycle.
That's the other rub here. Klopp wouldn't have been able to build his own foundation if he had taken on the USMNT gig right now. He would've had to salvage what was left for 2026, forced to pick up the tattered pieces of a program that flamed out in a blaze of disappointment at Copa America. Klopp is a terrific manager, arguably the best, but he's not a miracle worker.
It would've been a lose-lose chance for someone who basically has an unassailable reputation.
All is not lost for the USMNT. It's not ideal that they fired a manager less than two years before hosting the biggest tournament in men's soccer. There is still time for a turnaround and to establish some semblance of a positive direction. But if I were one of the leaders of the USSF, I would promptly give up this Klopp fantasy. It's not worth the time or the effort.
Until further notice, he's way too good for you.
I miss the old MLB sometimes
Major League Baseball has changed for the better in a lot of aspects, Mike Sykes writes. I'm not someone who likes to clamor for the good old days all the time. But there are certainly times when I do.
I ran into one of those times on Thursday when Pirates manager Derek Shelton decided to pull Paul Skenes after seven innings of a no-hit bid.
Look, the game was still incredible. Skenes was cooking with grease. Through seven innings and 99 pitches, he had 11 strikeouts. If he wasn't in Cy Young's conversations already, he certainly is in them today. All the more reason why he should've gotten a chance to go for his no-hitter.
Shelton said he pulled Skenes after seven because he thought his pitcher looked "tired." He thought he was wearing down. And, look, I get it. You've got to exercise caution. You don't want to overwork your pitcher — especially not one as good as this.
But COME ON, man. Let the kid try for a no-hitter. If he gets dinged, fine. But that's something every young pitcher has dreamed of. It's one of the moments you fantasize about in your parent's backyard as a kid. That's a moment. I wanted Skenes to have that moment so bad.
Ah well. Not this time. He's good enough that he'll get another opportunity at it sometime down the line. Hopefully, Shelton will let him cook when the time comes.
READ MORE: All 11 of Skenes' strikeouts against the Brewers
Rest in peace, Monte Kiffin
Football lost an absolute pioneer on Thursday. Famed defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin, died at 84 years old. Kiffin was the author of the Cover 2 defense that has completely reshaped the way we all watch football today.
Here's Cory Woodroof with more on his death and legacy:
"His impressive NFL coaching tree includes Tomlin, Morris, Herm Edwards, Lovie Smith, Rod Marinelli and Gus Bradley, per The Dallas Morning News.
After leaving Tampa Bay in 2008, Monte Kiffin went between college football and the NFL as a defensive coach, including a brief coordinator stint with the Dallas Cowboys.
He also spent a good amount of time with his son, Lane Kiffin, as one of his assistant coaches. The veteran coach closed out his career from 2020-23 as a player personnel analyst with Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss.
Lane Kiffin offered a tribute to his father on Thursday, calling him his hero."
Kiffin was one of the greatest defensive minds the game has ever seen. Surely, he'll be missed.
Photo Friday: Lewis Hamilton is back on top
I never thought the day would come when Lewis Hamilton felt like an underdog in F1, but it's here. That's why he celebrated so hard after winning the F1 Grand Prix earlier this week. Here's that moment. What a beauty it is.
Quick hits: A good Harrison Butker roast ... Dawn Staley's ESPY speech ... and more
— The ESPYs were fun last night! Here's Serena Williams and Quinta Brunson cooking Harrison Butker. Love this.
— Dawn Staley also delivered an incredibly powerful speech here. Cory Woodroof has more on that.
— Here's Robert with more changes to the FOX announcer lineup for the NFL this fall with Tom Brady on hand.
— Here's Bryan Kalbrosky on Team USA predictably roasting Drake after beating Team Canada.
— Christian McCaffrey's screenplay on Cam Newton missing his wedding is hilarious. Charles Curtis has more.
— Steph Curry is just as excited as we are about him throwing lobs to LeBron James. Here's more from Blake Schuster.
That's a wrap, folks! Enjoy the weekend! Peace.