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22 hours ago
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Germany's World Cup 2026 disappointment has already claimed its head coach, and the DFB already has a preferred replacement in mind.
Julian Nagelsmann stepped down days after Germany's stunning Round of 32 exit at the hands of Paraguay, and Jurgen Klopp, out of club management since leaving Liverpool in 2024, has confirmed he's in talks to take over.
Here's where things stand, Nagelsmann's record in charge, and what Klopp has been up to since his Liverpool exit.
MORE: Why 'out of energy' Jurgen Klopp resigned from Liverpool
Will Jurgen Klopp be next Germany coach?
It's looking likely, though nothing is finalized yet. Fabrizio Romano reported on July 5 that Klopp had a full agreement in place, with the terms of his departure from Red Bull the only outstanding matter to sort out.
Klopp confirmed this week that he has held discussions with the German federation about the vacancy. "Yes, I can confirm the talks," Klopp said. "Yes, Julian resigned, and the DFB is working on a succession plan, and over the course of these deliberations, they have reached out to me."
The DFB named only Klopp in its statement on the search for Nagelsmann's successor, saying he had "signaled his willingness" to take the job. Klopp has echoed that publicly, saying he's "interested" in further talks and feels "more recharged than ever" after two years away from a dugout.
The remaining holdup is Klopp's contract with Red Bull, where he's serving as head of global soccer. Sky Germany reports he has a verbal understanding that would let him leave for the Germany job, but the finer details still need to be worked out between Klopp and his current employer before anything becomes official.
MORE: Jurgen Klopp accepts new job that could reshape German football
Has Julian Nagelsmann been sacked by Germany?
Not technically, though the line between resignation and forced exit is blurry here. Nagelsmann initially said he would not step down after Germany's Round of 32 exit to Paraguay on penalties. But following a nearly three-hour meeting with DFB officials in Frankfurt, who were reportedly unconvinced by his explanation for the tournament's failure, he agreed the players deserved "a fresh start" and resigned days later.
Germany won its group at this World Cup before suffering its first penalty shootout loss at a major tournament since the 1976 Euros. It marked the third straight World Cup that Germany has failed to reach the last 16, a brutal stretch for a four-time champion.
Germany record under Julian Nagelsmann
Nagelsmann took over in September 2023, replacing Hansi Flick, and finished his tenure with 23 wins, seven draws and seven losses in 37 matches, a win percentage above 62 percent.
His high point came at Euro 2024 on home soil, where Germany won its group over Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland, then beat Denmark in the Round of 16 before falling 2-1 in extra time to eventual champion Spain in the quarterfinals. That loss to Spain was the only defeat in a 17-match unbeaten run in regulation time. His contract was extended twice on the strength of that tournament, first through the 2026 World Cup and then, in January 2025, all the way to Euro 2028, before the World Cup exit ended things early.
Where is Jurgen Klopp now?
Klopp has been out of the dugout since leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season. In October 2024, he was announced as Red Bull's global head of soccer, a strategic role across the company's network of clubs that started on January 1, 2025.
The job isn't about day-to-day coaching. Klopp supports sporting directors across Red Bull's clubs, helps advance the group's playing philosophy and lends his network to scouting and coaching development. His four-year contract reportedly includes an exit clause built specifically around the German national-team job.
Has Jurgen Klopp managed a national team before?
No. Klopp's entire coaching career, going back to Mainz 05 in 2001, has been at club level. He managed Mainz through 2008, then Borussia Dortmund from 2008 to 2015, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles and reaching a Champions League final. He spent his final and longest spell at Liverpool from 2015 to 2024, winning the Champions League, Premier League and multiple domestic cups.
The Germany job would mark his first at international level and his first job of any kind on a sideline since walking away from Anfield.
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