Gary Lineker wants Jurgen Klopp to replace Southgate in charge of England

Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of the season after a nine-year spell in charge that saw the Reds regain glory in the Champions League, the Premier League and many other big competitions. 

Citing fatigue, the 57-year-old revealed he would be heading for a long break from football and has spent the last few months watching the Champions League final, playing padel, attending a Taylor Swift concert at Anfield and spending time in his Mallorca villa. 

Last week it was revealed that US Soccer had made an attempt to bring Klopp on board and oversee preparations for the 2026 World Cup which will take place on home soil. 

Those efforts were politely rebuffed with the German reminding suitors that he was intending on fulfilling his pledge to take a sabbatical from the game for an extended spell. 

However, since England’s defeat in the European Championship final on Sunday, talk has turned to Klopp potentially replacing Gareth Southgate in charge of the Three Lions. 

Southgate has brought England to two European Championship finals but fallen at the last hurdle on each occasion and with his contract up at the end of the year, top pundits are suggesting a change at the top. 

England have struggled to create chances and to play attractive, attacking football, and although Lineker respects Southgate for all he’s achieved at the helm, he thinks the time is right for a change. 

Time is right for Klopp says Lineker

"I think he's been the right person to bring the nation together in terms of the football team,” Lineker told The Rest Is Football podcast. 

“And, now, maybe it's time for someone else with a more modern, attacking style of football. Because I think the game's gone away from being successful if you're really defensive.

"Wouldn't you go all out for Jurgen Klopp?"

"Klopp's kind of been out of a job. He'll have had a bit of a rest."

Spain beat England 2-1 in Berlin on Sunday night with goals coming from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal. England replied through Cole Palmer.