Speculation over Klopp coaching Roma laughed off by agent
Juergen Klopp laughs during his presentation as the new Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull Hangar-7. According to the Italian media, Juergen Klopp is to become the new coach of AS Roma. Jan Woitas/dpa
Italian newspaper La Stampa has speculated that Jürgen Klopp will return to the dugout as Roma coach, but his agent on Tuesday denied there is any truth to the report.
Since leaving Liverpool last year, the German has often said he is not ready to coach again. He is now global head of soccer at Red Bull, a job which has not gone well so far with their main team RB Leipzig missing Europe for the first time as a Bundesliga club.
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He has also had to watch Arne Slot ease to the Premier League title in his first season at Liverpool.
La Stampa went as far as to say that Klopp had a phone call with Roma's American owner Dan Friedkin late on Sunday and said "Yes."
The paper used the headline "Habemus mister" in a playful reference to the recent election of a new pope.
Even Italy's main news agency ANSA reported on La Stampa's story. La Stampa is well respected but based in Turin. The Rome sports paper Corriere dello Sport did not carry the story.
Klopp's agent Marc Kosicke told German newspaper Bild: "Total rubbish. It's getting boring having to comment on these rumours all the time."
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Sources close to the matter also told dpa the speculation was not true.
Klopp, 57, has been heavily criticized by football purists for joining the football empire run by the energy drinks firm.
Roma are looking for a coach given club icon Claudio Ranieri is stepping down after an interim spell in charge. The Giallorossi are fifth in Serie A with one game left and last won the title in 2001.
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