New German national team coach Jürgen Klopp speaks at a press conference on July 24, 2026, in Frankfurt.
picture alliance/dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
Most new coaches don’t talk about quitting on their very first day.
But Jürgen Klopp did just that on Friday, right after he was introduced as the new head coach of Germany’s men’s national soccer team.
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The former Liverpool manager stated he was ready for criticism regarding his tactics, roster choices, and results. However, he made it clear he would walk away if the media targeted his family with personal attacks or unwanted scrutiny.
“If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace, I’m gone,” Klopp told reporters.
It was a strong warning from a coach who also described leading Germany as the ultimate peak of his career.
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“Jürgen Klopp is not going to have any career after the national team,” he said. “This is the pinnacle of my career as a coach. I will give it everything I’ve got.”
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So why bring up quitting during such an exciting new chapter?
Here is a closer look at what he said and why he said it.
What did Jürgen Klopp say?
At his first news conference, Klopp made it clear that while he accepts criticism of his work, he wants his family to be left out of it. He acknowledged that criticism is part of managing a top soccer team, but warned he would quit if people targeted his family or personal life.
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Klopp also promised that if the German Football Association, or DFB, decided he was not the right coach, he would leave without asking for severance pay.
Overall, Klopp’s message was clear: judge him for Germany’s results, but keep criticism focused on his work.
Why did Klopp say he would quit?
Klopp said he has seen other top coaches face criticism that gets too personal.
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He mentioned Julian Nagelsmann, who coached Germany before him, and Thomas Tuchel, the former Bayern Munich coach now managing England. Klopp said the criticism they faced went too far, and he would not tolerate that for his own family.
Who is Jürgen Klopp?
Klopp is a German coach, and this is his first time leading a national team.
He signed a four-year contract that runs through UEFA Euro 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. He replaced Julian Nagelsmann after Germany was eliminated by Paraguay in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
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Before this, Klopp managed Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. He left Liverpool in 2024, then worked as Red Bull’s head of global soccer and as a TV analyst during the 2026 World Cup.
Jürgen Klopp’s coaching résumé
Liverpool (2015-2024): Won the 2019 UEFA Champions League and led the club to its first English league championship in 30 years in 2020.
Borussia Dortmund (2008-2015): Won consecutive Bundesliga championships in 2011 and 2012, and reached the 2013 Champions League final.
Mainz (2001-2008): Took over as manager in 2001 and guided Mainz to a promotion to the top-flight Bundesliga for the first time in club history.
Why did Germany hire Klopp?
After another disappointing World Cup, Germany chose one of its most successful coaches.
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Germany, a four-time world champion, went out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022, then lost to Paraguay in the Round of 32 in 2026. After that, Nagelsmann left, and the German soccer federation went after Klopp.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf called Klopp their top choice and the “ideal solution.” Now, Klopp has to rebuild a talented but struggling team before Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.
Why did Klopp take the Germany job?
Klopp said he wants to help Germany get back to the top in international soccer and sees this job as the most important part of his coaching career.
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His comments about leaving without severance also reinforced that message. Klopp said he would not remain merely to protect his contract if the DFB determined that another coach would be better for the team.
What’s next for Jürgen Klopp and Germany?
Klopp’s first match in charge is scheduled for Sept. 24 against the Netherlands in Amsterdam to open Germany’s UEFA Nations League campaign.
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Before that, Klopp needs to pick his first squad, make key decisions about players, and start putting his system in place — all with little time to train.
The big goal is Euro 2028, but, right now, Klopp’s main challenge is to show that this new start for Germany can lead to better results.