He has been the publicly stated favorite of the German Football Association since Julian Nagelsmann’s departure. Now it’s official: Jürgen Klopp is taking over as head coach.
The 59-year-old has signed a contract extending until 2030. He will officially start on August 15th. This was announced by the association during a presentation at the German Football Association’s campus in Frankfurt, alongside the appointment of 2014 World Champion Per Mertesacker as Managing Director of Sports effective from January 1, 2027.
“Jürgen and I have spoken intensively. From the beginning, he was our desired solution. He is full of energy and eager,” stated DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, who also confirmed the appointment of co-coaches Pepijn Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, and Sven Bender. Klopp will also bring his long-time advisor Marc Kosicke, who will serve as “Co-coach for Strategy, Development, and Innovation.” Klopp emphasized, “We need to change many things. We want to turn over every stone.”
Klopp: “Humility and Patience”
“This is a very special day for me. It is a great honor to be here,” Klopp remarked. “I look forward to this special task in German football, which we will tackle together with humility and patience: developing a team that fights for each other, enjoys football, and can gather the people of our country with full conviction.”
Agreement with Red Bull
Following the dismissal of Julian Nagelsmann, the path became clear—almost. Klopp expressed his willingness, and the DFB was also keen. However, the former master tactician from Dortmund and Liverpool held a major position as Head of Global Soccer with the Austrian beverage and sports entertainment conglomerate Red Bull. The DFB will pay a “release fee” of one million euros to a charity of Red Bull. Additionally, there will be three international matches in Leipzig by 2030. Neuendorf specifically thanked Red Bull for freeing Klopp.
Klopp to Lead Germany Back to the Top
With the necessary agreement now in place, Klopp is tasked with returning the four-time World Champion Germany back to the pinnacle of football. Following his departure from Liverpool in the summer of 2024, this marks his return to the sidelines after celebrating numerous successes there. As a former second division player without a coaching license, Klopp was appointed the coach of his long-time club 1. FSV Mainz 05 in spring 2001. Three years later, he led Mainz to their first-ever Bundesliga promotion.
In 2008, Borussia Dortmund recruited the rising manager. Klopp breathed new life into the long-struggling Black and Yellows. This resulted in winning the German Championship in 2011 and the double of the Championship and DFB-Pokal in 2012. The following year, BVB even reached the Champions League final, although they lost 1-2 to Bayern Munich.
A little over a quarter-year after parting ways with Dortmund, Klopp joined English record champions FC Liverpool in October 2015. These turned out to be golden years for the “Reds,” with a total of eight trophies in nine seasons—including the club’s first English championship in 30 years in 2020 and the Champions League victory in 2019.
First Klopp Game on September 24
The DFB’s hopes and those of the football nation rest on Klopp’s ability to replicate these successes as national coach. Following his Nations League debut against the Netherlands, there will be three more matches during an extensive international break. Three days after the clash on September 24 in Amsterdam, Germany will play against Greece in Augsburg. This will be followed by a match in Munich against Serbia on October 1, before heading directly to away games in Greece on October 4.
