DFB targets Klopp as Nagelsmann quits after World Cup exit
The German football association has turned to Jurgen Klopp to rescue the national team after Julian Nagelsmann resigned, a move that will require an expensive extraction from Red Bull to halt a decade of tournament underperformance.
Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany men's national team coach after a shock last-32 penalty defeat to Paraguay at the World Cup. The German FA (DFB) granted his request and immediately terminated his contract, stating it "will now seek talks with Jurgen Klopp". The DFB added that Klopp "has already signalled his general willingness to take on the position".
The exit continues a grim cycle for German football, which has not won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2014. Prior to the Paraguay loss, Germany suffered group-stage eliminations in 2018 and 2022. Nagelsmann, who previously reached the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, admitted the toll of the latest failure. "After such a bitter disappointment, they deserve the chance for a fresh start," he said.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf acknowledged the severity of the institutional crisis. "Germany's performance at the World Cup did not meet our standards," he said. "After a setback of this magnitude, and with the challenges ahead in mind, we cannot and will not simply move on as if nothing has happened."
A costly corporate extraction
Securing Klopp will represent a significant financial commitment for the federation. The 59-year-old stepped down from Liverpool in 2024, citing that he was "running out of energy", but took a role as Red Bull's head of global football in January 2025. He earns about £8.5m per year in that position, £2.5m more than Nagelsmann received from the DFB.
The DFB's pursuit of Klopp signals confidence that a deal can be reached despite his lucrative corporate contract. His appointment would likely be met with mixed reactions due to Red Bull's controversial role in reshaping the Bundesliga, but his popularity makes him the federation's primary candidate to stabilize the team.
Wider institutional changes
Klopp's presence as a television pundit during the tournament had already overshadowed Nagelsmann's tenure. He briefly sparked a media storm before the opening game by quipping: "Fortunately, Julian Nagelsmann is picking the team - still."
The managerial change is part of a broader structural reset at the DFB. Sporting director Andreas Rettig, who oversees the national team and the federation's academy, will not extend his contract and leaves at the end of the year. Klopp's immediate task would be navigating Euro 2028 qualifying, with the long-term objective of restoring the team to its pre-2016 competitive level.
