Klopp not eyeing ‘absolute top club’

Matt Stead

Jurgen Klopp insists his next management role in football does not have to be at an “absolute top club”, and he is not in a hurry to return.

The German has undertaken a sabbatical after leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season, having enjoyed a fruitful seven-year spell at the club.

Klopp has regularly been linked with management roles at Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid in the past, but the 48-year-old insists his next role does not have to be at one of Europe’s elite.

“It doesn’t have to be an absolute top club,” he told Bild. “There are other good projects that are exciting, [teams] who need help.

“I inform, read and meet a lot of people – there are ordinary little things that are great fun. I miss nothing [from football] currently.”

After almost 25 consecutive years of involvement in football on both the playing and the management side, Klopp is eager to enjoy his time off before returning.

“I don’t know where I’ll be heading to,” Klopp continued. “But right now, that’s not important for me.

“I know that if I will have the right feeling it will be a wonderful next chapter. You will see what happens and I find it exciting right now not knowing what will happen next.”