Jürgen Klopp confirmed as new Germany boss – threatens to quit if media goes after family
Jürgen Klopp is back in the managerial role – this time as manager of the German men’s national team. Klopp has signed a four-year contract that runs until the 2030 World Cup, and received the unanimous support of the German Football Association’s board.
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Thus, he returns to the bench for the first time since leaving Liverpool after the 2023/24 season. Since then, the 59-year-old has worked as a global football manager at Red Bull.
This summer, he was a presenter for German television and was present at the football World Cup, a World Cup that was Julian Nagelsmann’s last as national team manager. – Across the pond, he met another football personality with a commentary job.
At the presentation conference in Frankfurt, he said:
“It is a great honour to stand here today. What has happened to me in the last few days is like a movie raging through my head. Where did it all start? Where am I from? I had a certain idea of how big the role of national team manager is – but once you get associated with it, you really feel the weight and responsibility.
The federation also confirmed that Peter Krawietz, Pep Lijnders and Sven Bender will be Klopp’s assistants, while former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker will take over as sporting director of the DFB from the start of 2027.
“If you go after my family, I’m gone”
Although the atmosphere at the press conference was light and humorous, Klopp also had a clear warning to the journalists present.
“I’m not taking this job for my own sake – I’m taking it for you,” he said.
“I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how you treated Julian Nagelsmann. I take it even though I have seen how you treated Thomas Tuchel.
“If you go after my family, I’m gone. If you think I’m miserable, tell me straight – and I’ll leave immediately, without demanding a single penny in compensation.
“Jürgen Klopp has no career after the national team. This is hopefully the highlight of my career.
Klopp’s first four games as Germany boss:
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- September: Netherlands (away)
- September: Greece (home)
- October 1: Serbia (home)
- 4 October: Greece (away)
Lowering expectations
Klopp was present at the 2026 World Cup as an expert commentator, and watched as Nagelsmann’s Germany crashed out in the round of 32 – after a penalty shootout loss to Paraguay.
Now he warns against expecting too much too soon.
“The expectations in Germany are absolutely wild. Imagine if Nagelsmann had said “we want to go to the semi-finals” – what would people have said then? Klopp says.
“Of course, we want to achieve the highest goals. But we must realize that this needs time.
“We need realistic expectations. Players will get the chance who may not expect it themselves. Because I like to be brave. I always have been – and I will remain so.
“I want to work with players who play a football everyone likes. It doesn’t always go well right away, but I want people to go home from the game and say: “Wow!”
“Counter-pressing will be important. A stable formation. A clear football idea. The teams that could win the World Cup played with four at the back. We will do the same. We will play with wings. Today’s generation of playmakers is out on the edges.
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