The USMNT is looking to get a mastermind from the Premier League: Jürgen Klopp.
After firing Gregg Berhalter on Wednesday, the team is currently rudderless, but US Soccer chiefs at the United States Soccer Federation have reportedly held talks with Klopp, according to The Independent.
The situation is enthralling for USMNT fans: The team is coming off a devastating showing at Copa América on home soil, but now have the chance to get one of the most storied coaches in the game ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Klopp is statistically the best Liverpool manager of all time based on his win percentage, but he is currently relaxing in Spain in his $4.3 million Mallorca villa.
After nine years and capturing eight trophies with Liverpool, the 57-year-old insisted he was “running out of energy” when he announced he would be leaving the team.
But on that note, he also ruled out fully retiring.
“It’s out of the question that I’ll stop working altogether,” Klopp said. “But I don’t see myself continuing at the same pace as before at the moment.”
A move for Klopp to coach on the international level would include less day-to-day responsibilities than club coaching.
In an exclusive interview with The Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel, Alexi Lalas implored the USSF to have a conversation with Klopp about the job.
“Someone like Jürgen Klopp is out there,” Lalas said. “I know people scoff at the idea of someone with his pedigree and background would ever consider doing this. But until you have the conversation, you don’t know.”
Financially, there may be some hurdles to hiring Klopp.
Berhalter was making $1.4 million in base salary with $900,000 in potential bonuses, while Klopp will surely cost in the range of the $5.4 million England coach Gareth Southgate is earning.
Still, a USMNT legend, keeper Tim Howard, knows how transformative this move could be.
According to The Daily Mail, Howard vowed to fly to Spain to persuade Klopp to lead the US.
Klopp has the potential to take this team to the next level, and there’s currently no bigger name on the market.
Klopp also teased the possibility of him managing the USMNT on Instagram days earlier.
“It’s the perfect day to think about my trips with Liverpool to the States… we’ve had a great time & the US fans are electric! Happy 4th of July,” Klopp wrote alongside a selection of snaps from preseason tours.