Klopp tops the shortlist to coach Ittihad Jeddah: a dream pairing or a wild card?
29 septembre 2025
Klopp Tops Ittihad Jeddah's Coaching Shortlist
The German coach Jürgen Klopp is emerging as the leading candidate to take charge of Ittihad Jeddah, following the Frenchman Laurent Blanc’s exit after a 2-0 loss to Al Nassr in the Roshen Saudi Pro League’s fourth round.
Club officials in Jeddah have opened talks with renowned names such as Xavi Hernández, Unai Emery, Luciano Spalletti, and Sergio Conceição, aiming to secure immediate stability ahead of both domestic and continental fixtures.
Blanc, 59, had steered Ittihad to a domestic double last season, but this term has started with disappointing results, including a Saudi Super Cup semi-final exit to Al Nassr and a stumbling start in the AFC Champions League against the UAE's Al Wahda, before another setback in the Roshen league—still early in the campaign.
In total, Blanc oversaw 46 matches, winning 34, drawing 6, and losing 6.
The Ittihad Jeddah leadership and Klopp’s global footprint
According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadia, Klopp is at the top of the list, even though he currently serves as the head of global football for Red Bull, overseeing clubs such as RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls, and Red Bull Salzburg, among others.
Klopp’s coaching journey is marked by a standout spell at Liverpool from October 2015 to May 2024, spanning 489 matches with 304 wins, 85 losses, and 100 draws, a win rate of 60.8%. Liverpool’s goals for reached 1,088 while conceding 550, and the club accumulated 1,012 points under his leadership.
During Klopp’s tenure, Liverpool claimed eight trophies, including the Premier League title in 2020, the League Cup in 2022 and 2024, the FA Cup in 2022, and the Community Shield in 2022. At the continental level, the team lifted the UEFA Champions League in 2019, followed by the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
A remarkable coaching journey
Klopp began his coaching career with Mainz 05 in 2001, then moved to Borussia Dortmund (2008–2015), where he won two Bundesliga titles, one German Cup, and two German Super Cups, guiding them to a Champions League final that ended in defeat to Bayern Munich.
He earned Germany’s Coach of the Year honors five times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019). Notably, he became the first German coach to win the Champions League with an English club in the 21st century, and he set several Liverpool records, including the club’s first league title in 30 years with a 99-point season. He also oversaw historic Anfield winning runs and sustained undefeated sequences in the league, reshaping the club’s modern era.
The retirement whispers
In the summer of 2025, Klopp announced his retirement from coaching at a major conference, saying, “For now, there is nothing certain—no club, no national team.” He added that he intends to spend more time with his grandchildren and that his playing days are over, though he left the door ajar for future collaboration in football through other roles and mentoring roles.
Meanwhile, in January of the previous year, Klopp took on the role of Head of Football at the Red Bull group, where he provides strategic direction, supports sporting directors, and helps identify and develop talent across the group’s global network. His statement about the future suggested a willingness to contribute in ways that extend beyond managing a single club, always with a playful wink to the sport’s evolving nature.
Punchlines time: If Klopp signs, expect a trophy cabinet that needs a larger shelf. And don’t forget: retirement in football is just a long coffee break before reality calls you back to the touchline.
