Jurgen Klopp secures first job since Liverpool exit with shock return confirmed

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will return to the dugout for a special farewell match for iconic Borussia Dortmund duo Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Blaszczykowski. The 57-year-old is settling in to life outside of football management as the Premier League season returns with Klopp away from the dugout for the first time in nine years.

The German announced his shock departure from the Reds in January and officially bowed out following a 2-0 win over Wolves in May. Klopp officially confirmed the appointment of successor Arne Slot after sparking a chant for the Dutchman during his final addressing of the Anfield crowd.

It remains to be seen when Klopp will next be in the competitive role will be but he has already been honoured on Merseyside. Klopp became the first-ever honorary ambassador of the LFC Foundation, the club's official charity, in July.

On Friday, in a promotional video published by Dortmund, it was confirmed that Klopp would return to the dugout at Signal Iduna Park for the first time in almost ten years.

"Kollega, we have a farwell game, do you know that?" Piszczek begins. "We need a coach and I have an idea, we'll call the retired coach," before the video call splits into three screens showing Klopp with black sunglasses on.

"You finally have your farewell game," says the former Liverpool boss. "Oh my god. And you want to train, are you stupid?"

Klopp left both Dortmund legends in laughter when he answered: "I couldn't care less," when asked whether he would manage both teams or just one.

"I do it like I used to, I start thinking about it five minutes beforehand," he added. The video was capped with: "Kloppo ist dabei," which translates to 'Kloppo is there', relating to the exhibition in Dortmund for the Der BVB stars.

For much of the summer with vacancies emerging, the former Reds boss has been linked with a number of roles - including the position at England manager following Gareth Southgate.

Klopp has been forced to speak out against the links with the positions popping up across the world. He said at the end of July: "At the moment, there is nothing at all in terms of jobs. No club, no country.

"A few people must not have heard this part. And it would be the biggest loss of face in the history of football if you said, ‘I’ll make an exception for you now’.

"I’m going to do some work. I’m too young to only do padel tennis and grandchildren. Will that be coach again? I would actually rule that out at the moment. Let’s see what it will look like in a few months. Nothing is coming through at the moment.

"Maybe we can talk about it again in a few months. I still want to work in football and help people with my experience and contacts. Let’s see what else there is for me."

Liverpool kick-off their Premier League campaign on Saturday (12:30pm kick-off) as they travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys are back in the English top-flight after 22 years and unlike Klopp, who drew his opening game against Tottenham Hotspur, Slot will be looking to get off to a winning start.

Speaking in his first pre-Premier League press conference, the Dutchman said: "For me the pre-season games meant something as it was important to prepare the team for the Premier League.

"Now we start against a promoted team who have done so well under their manager so now we get ready. It's not harder than preparing for a team who were in the Premier League for 22 years, we have seen their games from last season and pre-season.

"It is true a newly-promoted club has a lot of positivity but everyone has told every game in PL is intense and that is what we expect tomorrow as well. A promoted team who only has had positives, they are looking forward to it, but so are we."