Jurgen Klopp has spoken candidly about the devastating loss of Diogo Jota. The Liverpool forward and his brother, Andre Filipe Teixeira da Silva, tragically died following a car crash in Spain in July. Jota, who the Reds brought in from Wolves for £41million in September 2020, shared a strong bond with Klopp.
During their time together at Anfield, they lifted the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, whilst also reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2022. The Portugal star made 182 appearances for Liverpool, netting 65 goals and contributing 26 assists.
Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp revealed how Jota’s death has impacted him. “I cannot imagine the dressing room right now without him being there,” said the former Reds boss.
“That’s for the boys as well. Nobody at Liverpool will ever use it as an excuse. He was so close with James Milner, very close with Kostas Tsimiskas, that’s moon and mars. Dealing with it on a personal level… Impossible.
“I got a message in the morning that it was bad news, from a friend from Liverpool and I couldn’t believe it. It was not possible. I heard it, know what it means. I saw all the pictures from the wedding and the boys were there… I know exactly where I was and how long I sat there without speaking a word.
“It’s exactly like a family member. It’s an example of the things you have to deal with without knowing at all. You cannot be prepared… you have to sort things you hadn’t expected. I was impressed with his presence, a very special young man.”
Klopp departed Liverpool in 2024, with Arne Slot taking the reins. The German, who subsequently became head of football operations at Red Bull, maintained a strong relationship with numerous figures at the club, including Jota.
During the podcast, Klopp hinted at the possibility of one day returning to the Anfield hotseat. The 58-year-old said: “I said I would never coach another team, a different team in England.
“So that means if, then it’s Liverpool, yeah. Theoretically it’s possible. I don’t even know exactly. I love what I do right now. I don’t miss coaching. I do coach, just different – not players – and I don’t miss it.
“I don’t miss standing in the rain for two-and-a-half or three hours and I don’t miss going to press conference three times a week, having 12 interviews a week. I don’t miss that. I don’t.
“I don’t miss being in the dressing room in a sense that I didn’t have it often. I coach one thousand and eighty-something games, so I was in a dressing room very often and I don’t want to die in the dressing room just because it’s nice. It smells!”.
“I’m 58. That’s, from your perspective, old, but from the other side it’s not. That means I could make the decision in a few years. I don’t know. Do I have to make a decision today? I will not coach again, but thank God I don’t have to do that.
“I can just see what the future brings. But now I’m involved in a project I really love and I love the people I’m working with and the clubs we are responsible for and the countries the clubs are in.”
