Jürgen Klopp appointed Germany head coach on four-year contract

Jürgen Klopp appointed Germany head coach on four-year contract

Germany have appointed Jürgen Klopp as the head coach of the national team on a four-year contract, the country’s football association (DFB) announced Friday, July 24, 2026. The appointment tasks the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager with leading the national team into a new era following a string of disappointing World Cup campaigns.

Klopp, 59, replaces Julian Nagelsmann. Nagelsmann stepped down after Germany suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. That result extended a run of poor performances for the team, which included group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022. While Nagelsmann had previously stated he was not someone to say ‘I’m stepping down’ just because we were eliminated, the DFB noted earlier this month that he had asked to be released from his contract.

The appointment marks Klopp's return to management after leaving Liverpool in 2024. For the last year and a half, he served as Red Bull's global head of soccer. To secure his release, the DFB reached an agreement with Red Bull that includes a €1 million ($1.14 million) donation to the company's Wings for Life foundation rather than a compensation payment. Additionally, the federation confirmed that Leipzig will host three Germany internationals in the coming years by 2030.

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf stated that Klopp was the federation’s ideal solution from the start and the preferred candidate. Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff noted that while the decision to release Klopp was not easy, he and managing directors Franz Watzlawick and Alexander Kirchmayr decided to support his ambition.

Klopp will not work alone. He is joined by a coaching team consisting of Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, and former Germany international Sven Bender. Parallel to the coaching change, the DFB appointed Per Mertesacker, a member of the 2014 World Cup-winning side and former defender, as managing director for sport. Mertesacker succeeds Andreas Rettig and has signed a contract that runs through the 2030 World Cup.

Addressing reporters and attendees at his introductory press conference, Klopp described the role as the highlight of my career and a huge honour. He acknowledged the emotional weight of the position, stating that the national team connects Germans like hardly anything else.

However, Klopp was quick to manage expectations regarding the current state of the squad. He noted that Germany is not currently number one in the world, with 11 nations ahead of them in the ranking. He argued that Germany does not possess players like Mbappé, Doué, Barcola, or Dembélé, but insisted the team can still beat nations like France, Spain, and Argentina by focusing on their own style of play.

Klopp also addressed his tenure and public perception with a direct tone. He stated that if the DFB or a collective of people decide he is rubbish, he will leave without any severance pay. He further noted he would depart if his family were not left in peace.

The new coach brings a storied club record to the national side. At Borussia Dortmund, he won the German Cup and Bundesliga titles. During his nine years at Liverpool, he secured the Premier League and Champions League titles, along with almost every other major honour.

The transition follows a period where Klopp, while working as a television pundit during the World Cup, drew criticism and later apologized for suggesting that Nagelsmann’s tenure as coach might be ending. Now in the role, Klopp intends to emulate the most successful Germany coaches to develop a team that fights for each other and enjoys football.

Klopp's first match in charge is scheduled for September 24 against the Netherlands. His immediate goals include rebuilding the team's fortunes for Euro 2028 before leading the squad into the 2030 World Cup.