Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was never contacted by Bayern Munich to replace Jupp Heynckes, though the German insisted a move to the Bundesliga champions would have been complicated.
Former Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp was linked with Bayern before the Bavarians turned to Eintracht Frankfurt s Niko Kovac to succeed head coach Heynckes in 2018-19.
Klopp enjoyed great success in Germany, having restored glory back to Dortmund after claiming Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.
However, Klopp – who is preparing for a Champions League semi-final against Roma – said joining Bayern was never an option, with the 50-year-old contracted to Premier League giants Liverpool until 2022.
It s a fact that I never had any release clauses in my contracts, Klopp told Sky Germany.
If Bayern would have indeed been interested, independent of any decision I d have made, it would have been a complicated transfer because I am under contract here for four more years, and Liverpool are not exactly unhappy with me. That s why it makes total sense, they didn t ask in the first place.
Klopp added: I can t rule out that I will call it a day way before other coaches usually stop. I feel that it s super intense, and I am not planning to die on the bench.
I will definitely take a year off after Liverpool. That s a clear agreement I have with my family. And from today s point of view, I can t rule out that I then say: Well, that was a lot of fun ‘
On the prospect of returning to Dortmund, who he left in 2015, Klopp said: I really don t want to return because the time I had was good.
I had a world-class time at Mainz and Dortmund. And it looks like I ll return there one day, but it does not have to be as a coach.