Why Germany HAVE to hire former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to replace Julian Nagelsmann - 'His influence extends far beyond tactics'
Updated 05/07/2026 at 10:24 GMT+1
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Jurgen Klopp has been chosen as the next manager of the German national team after the team were knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the last 32 stage. Julian Nagelsmann stepped down as manager of the team on Friday after the defeat on penalties to Paraguay.
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Whilst the appointment has not been made official yet, the German Football Association (DFB) said in their statement announcing the decision of Nagelsmann's departure that they would now seek to have talks with Klopp specifically.
Klopp has spent just under two years as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer, a role he took up in January 2025 after stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Klopp has long been rumoured as a future manager of the German national team, and should he take the job, the 59-year-old will be tasked with revitalising the team ahead of the 2028 European Championships, which will take place across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
To find out more about the decision for Nagelsmann to step down, and to replace him with Klopp, we got in touch with Adriana Wehrens from Eurosport Germany.
Klopp can bring back the excitement
The defeat to Paraguay continued a hugely unwanted record for Germany; namely, the last time they won a knockout game at the men's World Cup was when they won the 2014 final.
Nagelsmann was the second manager after Hansi Flick to try and build on the work of Joachim Low, the winning manager from 2014, but he was unable to reverse this trend.
Wehrens explains that the potential change from Nagelsmann to Klopp has given people in Germany "renewed optimism" around the national team.
"Following Germany’s disappointing World Cup exit against Paraguay in the round of 32, many fans and pundits felt a change was necessary," Wehrens explained. "The early exit increased the pressure on Nagelsmann and strengthened the feeling that the national team needed a fresh start.
"At the same time, Klopp has long been regarded as the dream candidate for the job. For many supporters, his appointment would symbolise a new beginning and renewed optimism around the team.
"The dominant feeling around the appointment of Klopp is excitement. Germany’s performances at the World Cup were widely criticised, and many fans believe change is needed. Klopp remains one of the most respected figures in German football and is seen as someone who can restore confidence and belief.
"Klopp brings experience and, especially, hope. He has a proven track record of rebuilding teams, creating strong dressing-room cultures and competing for trophies.
"Symbolically, his appointment would send a strong message that Germany wants to return to the highest level."
'Influence extends beyond tactics'
Wehrens admits that "there are some questions about how his club-style approach would translate to international football" with few managers able to translate success between domestic and national team coaching - only two managers in history (Marcello Lippi and Vicente del Bosque) have won both the men's World Cup and men's UEFA Champions League.
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However, Wehrens believes that there are plenty of attributes that Klopp possesses which would allow him to overcome not having constant access to his players, like he did as a club manager.
"One of Klopp’s greatest strengths has always been developing players through daily work on the training ground, which is more difficult in international football," she said. "However, his influence extends far beyond tactics.
"He commands enormous respect and has repeatedly shown an ability to unite teams around a goal. His first task will be to turn Germany’s individual talent into a cohesive team. Tactically, his emphasis on intensity, pressing and clear roles fits well with what many want to see from the national team.
"Germany's World Cup campaign exposed a lack of chemistry and continuity. Key partnerships, particularly in midfield (Felix Nmecha-Aleksandar Pavlovic for example) and attack, never really clicked, while injuries highlighted how little established depth and cohesion the squad had.
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"A good example is the Florian Wirtz-Jamal Musiala partnership. Both are outstanding talents, but Germany never got the best out of them at this tournament.
"Plus, there has been criticism of the team's environment, but more importantly, Germany seemed to lack leadership in key moments. Too often, responsibility fell on only a handful of players.
"One of Klopp's main tasks would be to build confidence and create more leaders within the squad. His teams have traditionally been known for their resilience and willingness to step up under pressure. Klopp's biggest strength has always been creating unity and a clear identity, which is exactly what this team appears to need right now."
No viable alternative, and no Red Bull issues
Wehrens says that Klopp "was the standout candidate and by far the most popular option among supporters," when asked about other possible candidates for the job.
"There were other possible names, including Oliver Glasner, Sebastian Hoeneß, Fabian Hurzeler and Christian Streich," she explained. "However, Klopp’s combination of experience, success, leadership and public support set him apart."
Wehrens also says that there has been no real issue with the public since Klopp began his role at Red Bull. There had been some fans who were left frustrated with Klopp's decision, but Wehrens believes that when it comes to him taking the national team job, that angst has fallen to the wayside.
"Some supporters were disappointed when Klopp joined Red Bull because RB Leipzig remains controversial among many traditional football fans in Germany," she said. "Given his history with clubs such as Mainz and [Borussia] Dortmund, the move surprised some people.
"However, his overall reputation remains very strong. His success at Dortmund and Liverpool far outweighs any criticism linked to Red Bull, and he quickly emerged as the clear favourite for the national team job.
"His role as a MagentaTV pundit during the World Cup also kept him highly visible and further strengthened the perception that he would be a natural fit for the position."
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