Jurgen Klopp appointed Germany head coach on deal to 2030 World Cup

Jurgen Klopp has been appointed coach of Germany on a contract running to the 2030 World Cup, with the former Liverpool manager handed the task of reviving a national team that has repeatedly failed on football’s biggest stage.

The German football federation (DFB) confirmed the 59-year-old’s appointment on Friday as he was unveiled at a news conference, ending months of speculation over who would succeed Julian Nagelsmann.

Klopp, taking on his first role since leaving Liverpool in 2024 citing fatigue, said: “It’s a big honour to be sitting here. I had an idea how big the job of national team coach is, but when you’re being directly connected with it, you really feel the scale and the responsibility even more.”

The DFB has tied Klopp to a deal that covers the entire cycle up to the 2030 World Cup, underlining its determination to rebuild after Germany were knocked out before the last 16 of a men’s World Cup for the third consecutive tournament.

Successor to Nagelsmann

Klopp replaces Nagelsmann, who stepped down following Germany’s loss to Paraguay, a defeat which ensured they again failed to reach the World Cup knockout phase.

From the moment Nagelsmann quit, the DFB identified Klopp, renowned for his high-intensity “heavy metal football” at Liverpool, as its preferred candidate. Talks extended over several weeks as Klopp combined negotiations with his work as a World Cup pundit in the United States for a German-language broadcaster.

The new national coach emphasised both his renewed energy and the conditions under which he is prepared to continue in the job. Klopp has previously said he felt “recharged” while discussing the Germany role, and on Friday he made clear he would not seek a pay-off if things went wrong.

He stated he would be willing to walk away without any severance payment if the appointment did not succeed, and warned he could resign if the media did not “leave my family in peace”.

Red Bull agreement and no release fee

Before confirming Klopp’s appointment, the DFB also had to reach an understanding with the Red Bull group, where Klopp has spent the past 18 months as “head of global soccer”, advising its portfolio of football clubs around the world.

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said there would be no conventional release clause or compensation fee paid directly to Red Bull for Klopp’s services. Instead, the federation will donate €1m to a Red Bull-linked charity and has committed to staging three Germany home matches in Leipzig, the eastern city where Red Bull backs the local Bundesliga club.

Nations League test to open reign

Klopp’s first assignment as a national team coach will come swiftly, with a demanding run of fixtures in the Nations League. Germany are scheduled to play four matches in 11 days in late September and early October, facing the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia.

Those games will provide an early indication of whether Klopp can begin to address a decline that has seen Germany fail to win a World Cup knockout tie since beating Argentina in the 2014 final.

Mertesacker to oversee pathway from youth to senior level

One member of that 2014 World Cup-winning side will now work closely with Klopp in a senior leadership role.

Former Germany defender Per Mertesacker has been appointed the DFB’s new managing director for sport. His remit will cover all German men’s national teams, with a particular focus on ensuring a smoother progression for players from youth level into the senior squad.

Mertesacker, who has spent the past eight years in charge of Arsenal’s academy, will begin his new position in January. He will operate alongside Klopp as the federation seeks to rebuild both its senior side and its development structure in time for future major tournaments, culminating in the 2030 World Cup.