The German Football Association announced the appointment of Jürgen Klopp, the former technical director of English Liverpool, as the new coach of the first national team.
Julian Nagelsmann, the former technical director of the German national team, had left his post after an early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the defeat to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32.
Contract until 2030
The German Football Association clarified in an official statement that it had decided to contract with Jürgen Klopp as technical director of the first national team, with a four-year contract, to lead "Die Mannschaft" in the 2028 UEFA European Championship and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The statement indicated that this decision came after unanimous approval from the supervisory board and the general assembly of the German Football Association company, based on a proposal by Bernd Neuendorf, president of the association, and his deputy, Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Return of the Liverpool duo
Klopp, who is 59 years old, will officially assume his duties starting August 15, 2026, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned from his post on July 3 last.
Klopp will be accompanied by a complete technical staff that includes three assistant coaches: Peter Krawietz, Pepijn Lijnders, and Sven Bender.
Krawietz and Lijnders are among Klopp's closest aides, having worked with him at Liverpool and contributed to winning the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the English Premier League in 2020. Krawietz had previously worked with Klopp at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.
As for the choice of Sven Bender, it was made by the German Football Association after coaching stints with Dortmund and Unterhaching, in addition to his previous work with the German national teams under-16 and under-17.
Statements by Klopp and the officials
Jürgen Klopp said after signing the contract: "The national team can unite the Germans like nothing else, and this is what makes this task very special for me."
He added: "I am now looking forward to this special task, and we will work with humility and patience to build a team that fights for each other, enjoys football, and that the German people can rally around with pride."
As for Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association, he confirmed that Klopp was the first choice to take on the task, praising his personality and his ability to lead players and fans, and thanking everyone who contributed to concluding the agreement.
For his part, Hans-Joachim Watzke described Klopp as "one of the best coaches in the world," noting that he possesses the ability to develop players and inspire them, which are the qualities the German national team needs in the coming stage.
As for sporting director Rudi Völler, he confirmed that Klopp has proven over the years his ability to develop talents and achieve success under pressure, expressing his anticipation of working with him.
