Jurgen Klopp is poised to make a sensational return to the dugout, with La Stampa claiming the former Liverpool manager has agreed to take over at AS Roma.
Klopp stepped down from his Anfield post at the end of last season. The German tactician appeared to be easing into a less hands-on role as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull GmbH.
However, Klopp has reportedly opted for an unexpected new chapter at the Stadio Olimpico weeks after links to the Real Madrid job.
Per the report, Klopp had initially been in talks with another club amid a potential change of ownership.
When that project collapsed, he pivoted to Roma. The report pinpoints the exact moment the deal was sealed.
According to La Stampa, at 10:57 p.m. local time on May 18, Klopp gave his green light to Roma president Dan Friedkin.
With his high-energy pressing style and track record of building unified, cohesive squads, the Giallorossi may finally have found the man to bridge the gap to the elite teams in Italy.
The change also marks a graceful exit for Claudio Ranieri, the ever-reliable statesman who returned for a final spell to stabilise a Roma team flipping through managers.
The legendary Italian gaffer took a team on the brink of collapse and led them back into one of the European slots.
His job on the touchline may be over, but Ranieri will stay in a consultancy role, helping Klopp navigate the intricacies of Serie A.
Roma fans have been hungry for a return to the top. They have not won a Serie A title since 2001, and their last taste of trophy success came in 2008.
However, Klopp has a track record of defying the odds to win titles, and his potential arrival will give fans a reason to dream big.
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