Klopp leads the race to replace Nagelsmann as Germany manager after World Cup exit

Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany manager after the national team’s elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Paraguay, who knocked them out on penalties in what was a deeply disappointing campaign for one of the tournament’s traditional heavyweights.

With the job now vacant, attention has quickly turned to who might take charge of the four-time world champions. Jurgen Klopp is the clear frontrunner, listed at odds of 2/5 on Oddschecker. The former Liverpool manager has been absent from club football since leaving Anfield in 2024 and currently serves as head of global soccer at Red Bull. Reports suggest he would be willing to return to the dugout for the Germany role, with some sources indicating his Red Bull contract even contains a specific clause permitting him to leave for the national team job.

Pep Guardiola is the second name on most lips, available at 5/1. The Spaniard, who departed Manchester City at the end of last season, has previously expressed an openness to international management. After leaving City, he acknowledged he lacked the energy for another full club rebuild but left the door ajar, saying: “Maybe a national team, but that’s different.”

Beyond those two headline names, Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness is among the more realistic domestic options at 6/1. Former Germany World Cup-winning manager Joachim Löw is also in the frame at 8/1, as is Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler at the same price — a notable inclusion given his relative inexperience at the highest level.

Further down the list, former Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann is a 25/1 shot, while current United States manager Mauricio Pochettino carries the same odds despite his ongoing role ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Ex-England boss Gareth Southgate and Patrick Vieira are both listed as long shots at 33/1.