LONDON - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp used to dream about managing Manchester United, according to a long-standing associate of the German coach.
Eckhard Krautzun managed Klopp at German club Mainz before the Liverpool boss succeeded him in 2001.
Krautzun has kept in touch with Klopp and told The Set Pieces website: "I’m not surprised he does so well. When it came to his favourite club, however, Liverpool weren’t always number one.
"It would be his dream to go to England one day and his favourite club would be Manchester United. That’s what he said."
Krautzun had a strong friendship with Sir Alex Ferguson dating back to the 1970s, when the German attended a coaching seminar at the Football Association headquarters along with Bill Shankly, Don Howe and Dave Sexton. Krautzun later stayed with Ferguson and his wife Cathy and he revealed that they still regularly watch games together.
Krautzun recommended Klopp to Ferguson and believes that if the United job had been vacant when Klopp left Borussia Dortmund in 2015, he may well have ended up at Old Trafford. Instead, Klopp went to Anfield as Louis van Gaal stayed at United.
"I said, 'Jurgen, if he goes abroad, if he goes to England, his love would be Manchester United'," Krautzun added.
"But after three or four months not working, when the offer came from Liverpool (in October 2015), I knew he would not hesitate because he wanted to get into a top club in England."