Jurgen Klopp has been appointed as the new coach of Germany.
Klopp signed a four-year contract that will take him to the 2030 World Cup as he received unanimous support from the German Football Association’s governing board.
It sees the former Liverpool manager return for the first time since leaving Anfield at the end of the 2023/24 season. Since then the 59-year-old has served as Red Bull’s global head of football.
Delivering his speech in Frankfurt, he said: “It is a great honor to be here today. What happened to me in the last few days is like a movie that comes to your head. Where did it start, where did you come from? I already had an idea of how big the role of the national coach is but when you associate yourself with it, you feel the greatness and responsibility even more.”
The DFB also confirmed the appointment of Peter Krawietz, Pep Lijnders and Sven Bender as Klopp’s assistants while former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker will take up the role of DFB managing director of sport from the start of 2027.
If you follow my family, I’m gone – Klopp warns the German media
While the atmosphere at the press conference was upbeat, Klopp had a word of caution for the assembled media.
“I’m not doing this work for myself, I’m doing it for you,” he said. “I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how he treated Julian Nagelsmann, I’m taking it even though I’ve seen how he treated Thomas Tuchel.
“If you follow my family, I’m gone, if you think I’m trash, tell me to my face and leave immediately, without asking for compensation.
“Jurgen Klopp doesn’t have a career in the national team. This is the highlight of my career.”
Jurgen Klopp’s first four games as Germany manager
September 24: Netherlands (A)
September 27: Greece (H)
October 1: Serbia (H)
October 4: Greece (A)
Klopp is trying to limit expectations
Klopp attended the 2026 World Cup as a researcher and watched Nagelsmann’s Germany exit at the round of 32, losing on penalties to Paraguay.
And warn against expecting too much, too soon.
“The expectations in Germany are crazy. Imagine if Nagelsmann had said ‘we want to reach the semi-finals?’ What would the people say?” he added.
“Yes, we want to achieve high goals, we must understand that we need time for this.
“We need realistic expectations. The players will get unexpected opportunities. Because I like to be brave. I have always been like that and I will continue to be like that. I want to work with players who play football that everyone likes. This is not always successful, but I want to get people to go home after the game and say, ‘wow!’
“Counterpressing will be an important topic, a stable formation, a clear vision of football, teams that can win the World Cup and play with four men at the back, we will do the same, we will play with wing players, today’s wing players
