Jurgen Klopp, the highly successful former Liverpool manager, has reached an agreement in principle to become the next head coach of the German men's national football team. The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed that DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and Vice-President Hans-Joachim Watzke held constructive discussions with Klopp in New York, where key points of a potential contract were agreed upon.
The move comes after Julian Nagelsmann resigned from the post following Germany's disappointing exit from this summer's World Cup, where they were knocked out at the last-32 stage by Paraguay on penalties. Nagelsmann's tenure, which began in September 2023, saw Germany reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 but ultimately ended prematurely after his second major tournament in charge.
While an agreement in principle has been reached with Klopp, further talks are scheduled for next week. A crucial step involves securing an agreement with Red Bull, where Klopp has served as head of global football since January 2025. Both the DFB and Klopp's representatives expressed confidence that negotiations will be successfully concluded, paving the way for his highly anticipated return to management.
Klopp is expected to sign a four-year contract, marking his first coaching role since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024 after a hugely successful nine-year spell. During his time at Anfield, he guided the club to seven major honours, including the Premier League title in the 2019-20 season and the Champions League in 2019. Prior to that, he achieved significant success in Germany, leading Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles between 2008 and 2015.
The reunion with Hans-Joachim Watzke, who was Borussia Dortmund's chief executive during Klopp's successful period there, is believed to have been a significant factor in the swift progress of negotiations. Germany hopes Klopp's proven track record and charismatic leadership can revitalise a national team that has struggled in recent major tournaments, having failed to progress beyond the group stage in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.