Jürgen Klopp Returns to Television as a Pundit After 15 Years

Jürgen Klopp has announced via Instagram that he will return to television as a pundit for the first time in over 15 years.

Klopp is set to serve as a TV expert for a pay channel during the World Cup tournament next summer. He will be joined by Thomas Müller, who was also confirmed as a pundit for the World Cup earlier this season.

In an interview with Kicker, Telekom CEO Rodrigo Diehl stated:

“We’re not just planning; we’re actively making signings. Alongside Thomas Müller, Jürgen Klopp is now part of our expert team. He embodies pure football and is a world-class coach who has achieved remarkable success with both Dortmund and Liverpool. With him and Thomas Müller, we have secured two top-tier experts.”

When asked about the potential collaboration between Klopp and Müller, the CEO remarked:

“That will depend significantly on the draw on December 5th in Washington. Following that, we will determine who will be on duty at various times throughout the tournament. Our aim is to assemble an expert team that is well-suited for this extensive competition. If Klopp and Müller appear together on screen, all of football-loving Germany will be paying close attention.”

Since stepping down as Liverpool’s manager in 2022, Klopp has served as the Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull. Transitioning to television could signal a new direction for him if he chooses not to return to coaching.

Two decades ago, before rising to prominence in Germany, the then Mainz head coach worked as a pundit for the German public broadcaster ZDF during the 2006 World Cup.

During his previous television tenure, Klopp played a pivotal role in transforming how football analysis was conducted on TV. According to Welt, he utilized a screen to dissect match scenarios and identify errors.

The program he contributed to at ZDF during Germany’s ‘Sommermärchen’ won a Deutsch Fernsehpreis in 2006. The future Borussia Dortmund head coach later held similar roles for the 2008 Euros with the public broadcaster and with RTL for the 2010 World Cup.