The German National Team will be Klopp’s (59) first experience as a coach at the international level. Credit: kloppo / Instagram
Germany appointed Jurgen Klopp as head coach on Thursday, July 24, 2026, handing the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager his first job in international football after more than two decades at club level. The German Football Association made the appointment following Germany’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in which the team’s elimination ended Julian Nagelsmann’s tenure. Klopp, 59, now takes charge with preparations already focused on UEFA Euro 2028 and qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement ends months of speculation over who would guide one of international football’s most successful national teams into its next competitive cycle. Klopp arrives after a coaching career that produced league titles in Germany and England, a UEFA Champions League crown and domestic trophies across two of Europe’s most competitive leagues.
Jurgen Klopp’s record shaped a coaching career built on results
Klopp began his coaching career at Mainz 05, the club where he had spent more than a decade as a player. In 2004, he guided Mainz to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history. He established the team in Germany’s top division despite operating with one of the league’s smallest budgets.
Borussia Dortmund appointed him in 2008. Within three seasons, Dortmund had ended Bayern Munich’s domestic dominance by winning the Bundesliga. A second league title followed in 2012, together with the German Cup, before Klopp led the club to the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.
Football analysts widely associate Klopp with the gegenpressing (“counter-pressing”) style, which emphasizes winning possession immediately after losing the ball. The approach, based on pressing opponents high up the field immediately after losing possession, has influenced coaches across Europe and become a common feature of the modern game.
Liverpool hired Klopp in October 2015 after several seasons without major success. The club won the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and lifted the Premier League trophy the following year, ending a 30-year wait for England’s league title. During his nine seasons at Anfield, Liverpool also won the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups.
After the 2023-24 season, Klopp stepped away from management, saying he no longer had the energy to continue coaching after nearly 25 consecutive years on the touchline. He described the decision as a personal one rather than a loss of enthusiasm for football. In January 2025, he became Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, overseeing the company’s football projects instead of managing a team. Germany’s offer brought him back to coaching for the first time since leaving Liverpool.
Klopp addresses expectations after Nagelsmann’s departure
Klopp succeeds Julian Nagelsmann after the German Football Association made a coaching change following Germany’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. During his introductory news conference, he referred to the scrutiny that surrounded his predecessor and warned against judging a national team on isolated performances.
“If tomorrow you say the football played by the national team is rubbish, I’ll leave,” Klopp told reporters.
He referred to the criticism that followed Nagelsmann’s World Cup campaign as an example of how quickly public opinion can shift around Germany’s national team. Klopp said criticism is part of the job, but argued that international football gives coaches limited time to work with players and that progress should be measured over several international windows rather than after a single match.
Germany has won four FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. Every national team coach takes charge knowing those achievements remain the standard against which future results will be judged.
Klopp’s connection with Colombia extends beyond Liverpool
Klopp also leaves behind a close relationship with Colombian football through Luis Diaz, one of Liverpool’s key players during the German coach’s final years at Anfield.
After signing Diaz from FC Porto in 2022, Klopp repeatedly praised the winger’s commitment, work rate and ability to influence matches. During the 2026 World Cup, he again spoke warmly about the Colombian while recalling their years together at Liverpool, comments that drew attention among Colombian supporters.
During the tournament, Klopp also praised the performances of Colombia and Mexico, saying the gap between traditional powers and emerging national teams continues to narrow because of improvements in coaching, player development and tactical organization.
Germany will begin its next international window under Klopp as preparations for UEFA Euro 2028 get underway, with qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup becoming the next major objective for the four-time world champions.