Klopp ‘the right man’ to rescue Germany after World Cup misery – Bayern president

Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer says he is “fully convinced” Jurgen Klopp is the only figure capable of rescuing Germany’s national team after a third successive early World Cup exit.

The German Football Association (DFB) is expected to confirm on Friday that the former Liverpool manager will take charge of the national side, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned after Germany were knocked out in the last 32 by Paraguay.

Hainer, speaking in spite of Bayern’s historic rivalry with Klopp from his Borussia Dortmund days, has thrown his weight firmly behind the 59-year-old, calling his impending appointment “a very, very good step”.

Bayern chief backs former rival

Klopp twice denied Bayern the Bundesliga title with Dortmund in 2010-11 and 2011-12, during one of the most intense periods of competition in recent German club football.

Yet Hainer told reporters on Wednesday, in comments carried by Sky Sport, that those battles only underline Klopp’s suitability to lead the four-time world champions out of crisis.

“I think it’s a very, very good step.. when we look at the results of the national team in the last three editions of the World Cup, we realise that it needs a strong psychological boost and a completely new beginning,” Hainer said.

Germany have failed to reach the quarter-finals at the last three World Cups – a dramatic fall for a team that lifted the trophy in 2014 and long prided itself on tournament consistency.

‘Klopp is the right man for this generation’

Hainer stressed that Germany’s problem is not a lack of talent, but a lack of direction and momentum – something he believes Klopp is uniquely placed to provide.

“We have a special generation of players, and Jurgen Klopp is the right man at this stage,” the Bayern president said.

“فقد حقق انجازات كبيرة في كل محطاته التدريبية مع ماينز ودورتموند وليفربول”.

Hainer highlighted Klopp’s record of transforming clubs: guiding Mainz 05 into the Bundesliga, turning Dortmund into title winners against Bayern’s dominance, and then delivering the Premier League and Champions League at Liverpool.

‘He carries everyone with him’

Central to Hainer’s endorsement is what he sees as Klopp’s exceptional people skills, both with players and fans.

He praised the 59-year-old’s ability to build unity around a team, saying: “هو ينجح دايما في حمل الجميع معه، وانا واثق انه سيفعل الشيء نفسه مع المنتخب الوطني”.

The Bayern chief went further, describing Klopp as “مدرب استثنايي في التعامل مع الناس على مختلف المستويات”، pointing to his talent for persuading others of his ideas, igniting passion within the squad and extracting maximum effort.

According to Hainer, Klopp can drive players to give “more than 100%” of their capabilities, precisely the sort of intensity and belief many observers feel has been missing from Germany’s recent tournament performances.

From Red Bull role to World Cup 2030 project

Since leaving Liverpool in May 2024, Klopp has been serving as head of global football for the Red Bull group, a position he took to step away from the day‐to‐day demands of management while remaining within the game.

That sabbatical from the touchline now appears set to end with one of the most high-pressure roles in world football.

Klopp is expected to sign a contract with the DFB running until the 2030 World Cup, giving him a full cycle to rebuild the national team’s identity and results on the biggest stage.

If confirmed, his appointment would mark the start of a long-term project to restore Germany’s status among the elite – and even a key figure from Bayern Munich, once his fiercest domestic foe, believes he is the man to do it.