Jürgen Klopp Linked to AS Roma, But Agent Shuts Down Managerial Rumors

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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Klopp’s Name Swirls Around Rome—But the Facts Don’t Add Up

Whispers and wild guesses can easily snowball into breaking news, and that’s exactly what happened this week when Jürgen Klopp, the former Liverpool boss, found his name at the center of a dazzling Italian football rumor. Social media lit up with claims that Klopp had agreed to become AS Roma’s next manager, supposedly following the imminent exit of Claudio Ranieri. The “evidence” was all about decoding a video posted by Roma’s owners—the Friedkin Group. The clip showed off classic Roman sights like the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica. Quick-thinking fans took the first letters of these icons and, with a stretch of imagination, rearranged them to spell ‘Klopp.’

The story picked up speed, especially in Italy, with La Stampa and other outlets running headlines about a secret agreement. But this train came off the rails just as fast as it left the station. Straight from Klopp’s camp, his agent Marc Kosicke didn’t mince words: the rumors are “not true.” The Friedkin Group, who also own Everton in England, also stepped in to deny there was any arrangement. They hadn’t even spoken with Klopp about managing Roma.

So where does Klopp actually stand? Right now, there’s no club training ground in his daily routine. After ending a near-decade journey at Liverpool—where he won the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, and more—Klopp picked up a new, much different challenge: Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull. That means he oversees their *strong* international soccer network: think RB Leipzig in Germany, New York Red Bulls in the USA, and a few others. Kosicke made it plain: Klopp’s focus remains with Red Bull’s vision and projects through 2029, not on a touchline in Serie A.

Roma’s Search—and the Social Media Spin

Meanwhile, things are undeniably in flux at AS Roma. Claudio Ranieri is set to move on, leaving a wide-open vacancy for one of Italy’s high-pressure jobs. Naturally, big clubs attract big rumors. But this Klopp story was fueled more by online puzzle-solving than behind-the-scenes negotiations.

The angle that made the story fizz—deciphering Easter eggs in a video—shows just how eager fans (and sometimes journalists) are to find hints that might not even exist. But Roma’s owners were clear. There’s no secret plan to bring Klopp to Rome, and no phone call to Germany. With Klopp’s own team locking the door on the idea, there’s really no smoke, let alone fire.

Honestly, Klopp is one of the biggest managerial names in football, and it’s not shocking that every time a top job opens up, his name gets brought up—sometimes with little to back it up. But for now, if you’re a Roma fan hoping for that famous fist-pump on the Olimpico’s sidelines, best keep your expectations grounded. The real work for both the club and Klopp lies elsewhere: for Roma, finding a new direction, and for Klopp, shaping the future of Red Bull’s global soccer empire.