Klopp agrees key terms to become Germany head coach in return from Liverpool exit

Jurgen Klopp is on the verge of returning to management as Germany’s head coach after the German Football Federation (DFB) confirmed he has agreed the essential terms of a potential contract, following talks held in New York.

The 59-year-old, who has been working as Red Bull’s head of global soccer since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024, would replace Julian Nagelsmann, whose tenure ended after Germany were eliminated from the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Paraguay in the last 32.

In a statement, the DFB said: “DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFB Vice-President Hans-Joachim Watzke held their first intensive talks with Jurgen Klopp yesterday in New York about the possible takeover of the office of national coach. During the constructive exchange, an agreement was reached on essential key points of a potential contract.”

The federation added that talks would continue in the coming week and that both sides were confident negotiations could be concluded successfully, subject to an agreement with Red Bull over releasing Klopp from his current role. Any final contract would also require approval from the supervisory board and shareholders’ meeting of DFB GmbH und Co. KG.

Klopp’s return to the dugout would be his first coaching appointment since departing Anfield, where he delivered Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years, a Champions League, and an FA Cup. Before Liverpool, he spent seven years at Borussia Dortmund, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles and reaching the 2013 Champions League final.

During the World Cup, Klopp had been working as a pundit on German television — a visible presence that appeared to fuel speculation about his interest in the national team role.

Nagelsmann had initially indicated a desire to remain in charge after Germany’s group-stage exit, which included a defeat to Ecuador in their final game, but the DFB confirmed his departure on 3 July.