Jurgen Klopp’s first game as Germany’s head coach might be one to remember!
Jurgen Klopp’s first game as Germany’s new national team coach on September 24 might see him face off against another former Liverpool manager. It was officially announced on Friday morning that Klopp will take over from Julian Nagelsmann, who stepped down after a tough World Cup run.
Klopp, who became Red Bull’s global head of soccer in January 2025, had said he wasn’t eager to return to club management after he left Liverpool in 2024. But when the German Football Association (DFB) offered him the job, he agreed to lead the team with some familiar faces by his side.
Joining Klopp will be his former assistant Pep Lijnders, who recently left Manchester City, along with Peter Krawietz, another longtime Liverpool teammate, and ex-German player Sven Bender, who played under Klopp at Dortmund. Per Mertesacker, who left his job managing Arsenal’s academy last season, will step in as Germany’s new sporting director.
Klopp shared, “The national team can bring Germans together like almost nothing else. I’m excited for this special role in German football. We’ll take it with patience and humility, building a team that fights for each other, enjoys playing, and makes the whole country proud.”
This year, Germany will play four matches during one international break in late September and early October. Their first game is against the Netherlands on September 24 in the Nations League. This match could see Klopp face another ex-Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, who is a top candidate for the Dutch coaching job after Ronald Koeman stepped down following their World Cup exit.
Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg said Slot is among those being considered for the post and has already had initial talks. Germany’s other games during the break are against Greece on September 27, Serbia on October 1, and Greece again on October 4.
When speaking to the media on Monday, Klopp set some clear ground rules. “If people don’t want me here anymore, I’ll leave—no pay, no drama. If I’m called rubbish by enough people or by the DFB, I’m gone. And if you don’t respect my family, I’m gone too.”
He added, “If something isn’t working, I welcome criticism—I want to fix it. This job is all that matters to me. After the national team, I don’t plan for another career. I hope this will be the highlight of my career.”
Klopp, who won both the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, was Germany’s top pick to replace Nagelsmann. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said on Monday, “Klopp stands out for his passion, honesty, and ability to inspire. After Nagelsmann left, he was our clear choice, so we worked hard to bring him in.”
Hans-Joachim Watzke, DFB’s first vice president, said, “Jürgen is one of the world’s best coaches. He makes players better and inspires and unites people. That’s exactly what our national team needs.”