Jurgen Klopp has set a haircut ban and three other strict rules that every Germany player needs to follow.
Jurgen Klopp has introduced a haircut ban and three other new rules as he prepares for his first game in charge of the Germany national team. After taking a break following his success with Liverpool, Klopp has stepped in to replace Julian Nagelsmann after a tough World Cup for Germany.
Klopp, who signed a contract until 2030, will lead Germany for the first time this Thursday in an exciting Nations League match against the Netherlands, coached by Xavi Hernandez. He’s already making changes and, according to BILD, has set four strict rules for the players.
Similar to what Zinedine Zidane did with France, Klopp won’t allow players to get haircuts at the team hotel. Instead, they must have all haircuts done before joining the squad, with no barbers allowed at the training base.
Klopp also wants the team to stay focused, so players aren’t allowed to use their phones before games. They must arrive on time and together for team dinners, which have been carefully planned. He’s big on team spirit, aiming to boost communication, bonding, and discipline.
Unlike Nagelsmann’s relaxed style, Klopp plans to limit family visits during big tournaments to keep everyone focused and united. Though it’s not clear yet what will happen if players break the rules, BILD says Klopp is “completely changing” the national team.
Klopp’s first big move was announcing a large squad of 44 players for upcoming matches against the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia. Impressively, 16 of these players haven’t played for Germany before. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Younes Ebnoutalib, who chose Germany over Morocco partly because of Klopp, is in the squad, along with four players from Freiburg, last season’s Europa League finalists.
Many new players could make their debut as Klopp begins a new chapter with the team. In a press conference, Klopp said, “I want to get to know as many players as possible. There is no A or B team. The squads are built to work well on the pitch and fit in terms of character and experience.”
Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich will keep his role as Germany’s captain under Klopp.