Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions Liverpool are only interested in recruiting Jorg Schmadtke to their technical team because of his previous relationship with the veteran German.
Schmadtke has emerged as a surprise contender for a position in the backroom staff at Anfield with the Reds still looking to replace outgoing sporting director Julian Ward, who will leave this summer after just 12 months in the role.
Klopp has known Schmadtke from his time as both a player and manager working in Germany, with the 59-year-old having worked as a sporting director at Aachen, Hannover, Koln and most recently Wolfsburg, who he departed in January.
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But Klopp is adamant any appointment will have nothing to do with nationality or his personal situation with the prospective candidate.
"If it happens, it would not be a Jurgen Klopp signing because we are both German or both know each other," said the Liverpool boss. "That would have nothing to do with it. I can say that.
"Jorg Schmadtke I have known a long, long time. He knows me probably not as long as I know him, because he was a much better player.
"But we started in a similar moment our second career, I became a coach at Mainz and he became sporting director at Aachen. Two teams of similar status, so from there we know each other a little bit.
"I know he is a good guy and a smart guy. Very good at what he did in Germany, definitely, very successful. His character is good, his personality is good, his humour is good. I know that from a few moments next to the pitch."
Klopp added: "We could talk about (Klopp's former sporting director at Borussia Dortmund) Michael Zorc. Similar age group, similar situation, just a bit longer in retirement and I know him much better. There are some good sporting directors in Germany you wouldn't believe!"
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