According to information from Sportschau, preferred candidate Jürgen Klopp has refused to become Hansi Flick’s successor as national coach. Klopp stands “not available for the national coaching position”, His advisor Marc Kosicke indirectly confirmed the cancellation to the Sportschau on Tuesday (September 12th, 2023).
The 56-year-old Klopp has often expressed general interest in becoming coach of the German national team. At the moment he doesn’t think the time has come yet and still wants to Liverpool FC in English Premier League remain. “Jürgen has a long-term contract with LFC and is not available for the national coaching position”is the complete quote from Kosicke.
According to information from the Sportschau, Hans-Joachim Watzke, as a long-time confidant, had tried hard to win Klopp as the successor to Hansi Flick, who was released on Sunday.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf told the Sportschau shortly before the start of the international match against France that “during the year there are always contacts with the players who are now being named”. Watzke “certainly also had contact” with Klopp, “but it wasn’t a serious negotiation.”
Multifunctional Watzke, vice president of the DFB and currently the most powerful man in German football, brought Klopp to Borussia Dortmund in 2008 and celebrated great success with him. With the former Mainz player, BVB became champions twice, even won the DFB Cup in 2012 and reached the final of the Champions League in 2013.
Nagelsmann is now probably in focus
According to information from Sportschau, the DFB’s interest is now likely to focus on recruiting Julian Nagelsmann, who has been released from FC Bayern, as national coach. The record champions from Munich have already signaled that they are releasing Nagelsmann from his contract, which is valid until the summer of 2026.