After being sacked by Manchester United in October 2024, Erik ten Hag is still searching for a return to top-flight European soccer. Despite being shortlisted by an emerging club, a familiar Premier League rival could block his path.
With previous experience in Germany as a Bayern Munich academy coach, Ten Hag was linked to the Borussia Dortmund job as a potential replacement for Nuri Şahin, but that opportunity ultimately fell through. Now, RB Leipzig has emerged as a possible destination, though securing the role won’t be easy.
According to Sky Sports, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed the idea of Ten Hag taking over at Leipzig. Now in a new executive role as Red Bull’s head of global soccer, Klopp has reportedly decided to pursue other candidates instead of the former Manchester United boss.
Although Marco Rose is under contract until June 2026, Leipzig is likely to part ways with him at the end of the season. This decision follows disappointing Champions League results, where the German side failed to progress to the knockout rounds, as well as their current 6th-place standing in the Bundesliga, leaving them outside the Champions League qualification zone.
With Ten Hag ruled out, Klopp has reportedly compiled a shortlist of three German coaches for the role: Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness, and former Benfica coach Roger Schmidt—leaving no room for Ten Hag in Leipzig’s plans.
Ten Hag vs. Klopp: A Premier League rivalry
During their time managing Manchester United and Liverpool, Ten Hag and Klopp were on opposite sides of one of English soccer’s fiercest rivalries. From 2022 to 2024, they faced each other seven times, with Klopp holding the advantage.
The German manager won three encounters, while Ten Hag won twice, with two matches ending in draws. Among their most notable clashes was Liverpool’s historic 7-0 thrashing of United in the Premier League, as well as United’s dramatic 4-3 FA Cup victory over Liverpool—an agonizing loss for Klopp’s side, who were eliminated from the tournament that Ten Hag’s squad ultimately won.