Klopp confirms Germany talks after Nagelsmann quits, but Red Bull exit complicates move

Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he is willing to hold talks with the German football association (DFB) about becoming the country’s next national team manager, following Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation after Germany were eliminated by Paraguay on penalties at the World Cup — their first ever shootout defeat at the tournament.

Nagelsmann stepped down after the four-time world champions fell at the knockout stage for the second consecutive World Cup, having last lifted the trophy in 2014. The DFB moved swiftly, confirming it would approach Klopp and stating that the former Liverpool manager had “already signalled his general willingness to take on the position.”

Klopp, who has been working as a pundit at the tournament, said only “time” was needed before an agreement could be reached — but acknowledged that his current role as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer, a position he has held since January 2025, makes the transition complicated. That role sees him oversee Red Bull’s network of clubs, including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and the New York Red Bulls.

Reports suggest a clause in his Red Bull contract would allow him to leave should the Germany job become available, yet Klopp was clear that he wants to handle his departure carefully. “I have an existing contract with Red Bull. I like to honour contracts,” he said. “But I am interested in having talks. They will have to be intensive talks. I also need to talk to my boss Oliver Mintzlaff. He cares deeply about German football. Red Bull needs to come out of this cleanly. It’s not that easy to step away from it.”

Germany’s World Cup campaign was a turbulent one. They opened with a 7-1 demolition of Curacao before unconvincing performances against Ivory Coast and Ecuador — a game they lost — left questions hanging over the squad ahead of the knockout rounds. The defeat to Paraguay on penalties deepened what Klopp described as a broader structural crisis in German football.

“We now need to fundamentally change things,” Klopp said, adding that the problems were “not tied to the person of Julian Nagelsmann.” He framed the moment as a “turning point” for the nation, regardless of who ultimately takes charge. “Whether it will ultimately be me or whoever else it is, that changes nothing about the fact that the changes are necessary.”

Klopp had declined to discuss his own future immediately after the Paraguay match, saying the timing was not right. His public comments since then represent the clearest signal yet that he is seriously considering a return to management on the international stage.