Jurgen Klopp snubbed the chance to become Manchester United’s manager in 2013 because his wife, UIlla, had a bad feeling about the club.
Back then, United were looking to appoint a successor for the departing Alex Ferguson, and they had earmarked the former Borussia Dortmund boss as a candidate.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward gave Klopp – who had won the Bundesliga title twice and reached the Champions League final – a tour of Old Trafford, but it was Klopp’s wife who played a key role in the German making up his mind.
Former Liverpool star Phil Thompson tells the story:
"I interviewed Klopp for Sky, and I asked if he and Liverpool were created for each other. He looked at me and asked "Why?"," the Liverpool legend told TV2 in Norway.
"Then Klopp told me he could have taken over Manchester United, but his wife said it wasn't right.
"When Liverpool arrived, his wife said it was right. There is something strange there."
"It is as if he's created for Liverpool."
The rest, as they say, is history. United would go on to appoint David Moyes, then Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a period of turmoil, while Klopp would join Liverpool.
Klopp has guided Liverpool to two Champions League finals, winning one, before ending their 30-year wait for a league title – their first ever Premier League title – in a season in which they won the Club World Cup also.
