Jurgen Klopp has already seen signs Liverpool appointing Arne Slot as his successor will "work out really well" - but admits he isn't missing being Reds boss. Klopp called time on an almost nine-year spell in the Anfield hotseat at the end of last season, a spell during which he swept the board of honours, including the club's first championship in 30 years, their sixth European Cup and a first-ever Club World Cup.
Slot began his reign with a 2-0 triumph at promoted Ipswich Town last weekend to become the first new Liverpool boss to win their opening league game since 1991.
And Klopp has been keeping a watchful eye on events with the Reds and has already been impressed by the impact of the new man in charge.
"Really good coach," said the German. "I was really happy when I heard that Liverpool was going for Arne Slot. I wasn't involved in anything, it should not be like that, and I'm not this kind of guy in the background, still having some strings and stuff.
A lot of things changed since we left. But the only concern for me was, will they get a good coach? Liverpool was early and Liverpool got a top, top, top solution in Arne Slot.
"I like his football a lot (with Feyenoord), so that's really good. I saw the Sevilla game, the pre-season friendly at Anfield - big parts of it were really good. And the league game (against Ipswich), the second half was obviously really good.
"But it's not important that I like it, you can see he is a very good coach and the team, I know now better than most, is a really good squad, is a really good team. So it'll work out really well."
Klopp had contact with Slot earlier this summer, and said: "We spoke one or two times (at the start). I think we texted a few more times. But there is nothing I can tell him what he couldn't know himself.
"Right now from my side, just to give positive feedback in the beginning because we are all human beings and he worked his socks off.
"When I saw the games, the work he did was obvious, the ideas obvious. And that's the best you can say about the coach."
Speaking to ESPN Netherlands, Klopp was asked about keeping in touch with Virgil van Dijk, who he signed from Southampton for £75million back in January 2018 and named Liverpool captain last summer.
"Unbelievable player," he said. "Unbelievable player. Unbelievable guy. So I miss them. I don't miss the job, (but) I miss all the people there. We can see each other whenever we want in the future."
Klopp remains determined to see out a year away from the game before deciding on his next move and whether to make a full-time return to management.
For now, though, the 57-year-old is enjoying his break and is keeping a watchful eye on his former assistant Pep Lijnders, who is now in charge at Red Bull Salzburg.
"I didn't say I can go again," he said. "It's just, I'm in a good mood? Life is different if we are not responsible for these kind of things, so I really enjoy that.
"I enjoy still watching football and especially Salzburg right now because Pep is super important to me so I like watching it and like to see the progress.
"I saw Liverpool playing as well (which) was really good. These are the things I watched, but besides that, it was a lot of Olympics and stuff like that.
"Brilliant summer so far. We have spent now three proper weeks with the grandkids and the kids together. It was beautiful."