"I think it's impossible." That's Vladimir Smicer's verdict on Liverpool turning down a Jurgen Klopp return — and given the context building around Anfield right now, it's not as far-fetched as it might sound.
Smicer made the comments after playing alongside Klopp in last Saturday's 2-2 legends draw between LFC Foundation and Borussia Dortmund Legends — the same match that brought Klopp back to Merseyside for the first time since leaving in 2024. The reception he got told its own story. The stadium was full. The crowd was electric. The man wasn't even managing anyone.
The Slot factor
Klopp's timing is interesting. Arne Slot has faced growing scrutiny this season, and whenever a Liverpool result goes wrong, the conversation inevitably circles back to his predecessor. That's not entirely fair on Slot — Klopp left enormous boots — but it's the reality of following someone who won every domestic and European honour the club could throw at him across nine years.
Klopp himself has played it cool. He played down comeback speculation last month, and his current role as Head of Global Soccer within the Red Bull hierarchy gives him structure without the weekly grind of management. "The easiest job he's ever had," he joked about his assistant role to Kenny during the legends match. You got the sense he meant it.
Still, Smicer is convinced the pull of Anfield will eventually win out. "He has something special with the Liverpool fans, the city, and the football club," he said. "If you ask anyone in Liverpool if Jurgen Klopp should come back one day, everyone will say yes."
What Klopp actually said
For his part, Klopp was effusive about the experience without giving anything away about his future:
- "Enjoyed every second" of his return to Anfield
- Described seeing former Liverpool and Dortmund players together as "really, really, really nice"
- Singled out Thiago — "alone was worth the ticket"
Anyone building a case that Klopp is ready to walk back through those doors will have to wait longer for harder evidence. But Liverpool's title odds this season have looked shakier than expected, and if results don't improve, the question of whether Klopp would actually say no stops being a fun debate and starts being a genuine football conversation.
"I think we will see him back one day," Smicer said. He might be right. He might be romanticising. The gap between those two things is currently the size of Arne Slot's job security.
