Jurgen Klopp Denies Bayern Munich Talks, Hopes Pep Guardiola Stays for a Decade

Jurgen Klopp has insisted he never held talks with Bayern Munich about succeeding Pep Guardiola. The newly appointed Liverpool boss told Sky Sports in Germany (h/t SkySports.com) he never made contact with the Bundesliga powerhouse after leaving Borussia Dortmund:

"

No, actually I don't know anything about that and this is not relevant to me.

Bayern is a fantastic club but I don't go on holidays and wait for someone to call me. I have done many things that I found interesting and exciting and I have used the time to meet loads of great people and I would have met many more.

"

Back in mid-September, Mail Online writer Sami Mokbel suggested Klopp was prepared to wait a year to take over at Bayern. But it appears the 48-year-old has always had his heart set on a stint in the Premier League.

In fact, Klopp has insisted he'd like to see Guardiola stay in charge at Munich for the next 10 years: "I never had a certain career plan and I can assure that I never talked to Bayern Munich. I also hope that Guardiola will stay there for another 10 years."

VI-Images/Getty Images

Speaking about the timing of Klopp's arrival at Anfield, the German coach's agent, Marc Kosicke, insisted contact with the Reds hadn't been made until predecessor Brendan Rodgers was shown the door.

He confirmed how the process went, as reported by German publication Bild (h/t ESPN FC): "The first call from Liverpool came after the dismissal as coach of Rodgers."

Klopp's arrival on Merseyside has sparked plenty of debate from those within and outside the Anfield club. Former Liverpool tormentor and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has already expressed concerns the German strategist will "do very well," according to ESPN (h/t Sky Sports).

Sang Tan/Associated Press

Liverpool are certainly an interesting fit for ex-Dortmund chief Klopp. He won a pair of Bundesliga titles with a high-intensity pressing game based on lightning-fast transitions from defending to attacking.

The squad Rodgers left behind features a few players who fit the mould of how Klopp likes to play. In particular, attacking midfielders Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, along with midfield runners Jordan Henderson and James Milner, could execute the press-in-platoons approach Klopp has made his signature.

Yet there's no doubt Klopp has taken on a major challenge at the club that hasn't ruled England's top flight since the '89/90 season. Bayern would certainly have represented a quicker route to league titles and potential UEFA Champions League trophies.

Opting to try to return Liverpool to long-forgotten glories will be a stern test of Klopp's reputation.