Klopp confirms Germany talks as Nagelsmann quits after World Cup exit

Jürgen Klopp confirmed on Friday that he is in negotiations to become Germany’s next head coach after Julian Nagelsmann resigned following the team’s penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the World Cup round of 32.

Speaking from New York in his capacity as a World Cup pundit for German broadcaster Magenta TV, Klopp said the German football federation had approached him as part of its search for Nagelsmann’s successor. A federation statement named Klopp as the only candidate and said he had “signaled his willingness” to take over.

“Julian has stepped down and the federation is working on the succession and has approached me in the course of those considerations,” Klopp said. He added that finalising any agreement would take time, partly because of his existing contract as head of global soccer for Red Bull’s network of clubs.

Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 after eight years at the club, during which he delivered the Premier League title and the Champions League. He cited a lack of energy as his reason for stepping away. That, he said, is no longer the case.

“About two years ago I stopped at Liverpool and said that I lacked the energy for another job or for another year with Liverpool. Since then I’m more than recharged, I’m ready,” he said.

The scale of the task facing whoever takes the role is considerable. Germany has now failed to reach the round of 16 at three consecutive men’s World Cups and has not won a knockout match since defeating Argentina in the 2014 final. Klopp acknowledged the job would require a fundamental reset, saying he would need “intensive talks” with the federation to agree on how to reshape the team.

“German soccer is obviously at a turning point now,” Klopp said. “Now we need to change things fundamentally. Whether that’s me in the end or whoever it may be, that doesn’t change the fact that changes are necessary.”

Klopp was careful not to apportion blame to Nagelsmann, calling him an “excellent coach” and framing the problems as structural rather than personal. Notably, Klopp had been a visible presence pitchside during the tournament, conducting postgame interviews with Nagelsmann — and had said in the immediate aftermath of the Paraguay defeat that he had not considered taking the job.