FRANKFURT — The German Football Association (DFB) appointed Jürgen Klopp as the head coach of the Germany men's national soccer team on July 24, 2026. Klopp signed a contract with the DFB that runs through the 2030 World Cup, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann in the role.

Nagelsmann resigned as Germany head coach following the team's round of 32 exit to Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup. Germany lost to Paraguay on penalties in that match, extending a period of struggle in major tournaments for the national side.

Germany has not won a knockout game at a men's World Cup since winning the title in 2014. The recent exit marked a continuation of this trend, as the team failed to advance past the initial knockout stage.

Klopp left his role as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer to become Germany head coach. He had served in that position since January 2025, following his departure from Liverpool in 2024.

The DFB agreed to donate €1 million to the Red Bull-backed "Wings for Life" foundation as part of the arrangement to secure Klopp's release. The Wings for Life foundation supports medical spinal cord research.

The DFB also committed to staging three senior Germany international matches at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig during Klopp's contract. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf held intensive talks with Red Bull chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff to reach the agreement.

Neuendorf stated that the special arrangements were made in recognition of the uncomplicated and unbureaucratic manner in which Red Bull handled Klopp's release. Mintzlaff said the decision reflected support for Klopp's ambition to take on a major role in German football.

"We decided to support his ambition. The opportunity to support Germany during a challenging period and to take on one of the most important roles in German football is of great significance to him," Mintzlaff said.

Klopp stated that the appointment represents a major professional milestone. "Jürgen Klopp doesn't have a career after the national team. Ideally, this is the highlight of my career," he said.

He acknowledged the scale of the task ahead, noting the team's current standing in international rankings. "There are 11 nations ahead of us in the ranking – but we have to make beating them possible, with the way we play football," Klopp said.

he said he reviewed a large pool of talent during his preparation for the role. He stated he looked at 57 outfield players as he assessed potential selections for the national squad.

He outlined his approach to selecting players, emphasizing a willingness to take risks. "Players will get opportunities who aren’t expecting it at all. Because I want to be brave. I always have been, and I always will be," he said.

The new head coach also described his vision for the team's style of play. "I want to work with lads who play football that everyone enjoys watching. That doesn’t always bring immediate success, but I want people to go home after the game and say: ‘wow!’" he said.

Klopp expressed his feelings about the responsibility of the position during a press conference. "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," he said.

He set clear boundaries regarding his tenure and personal life. "The day you don't want me anymore, I'm gone. If you behave badly and don't leave my family in peace, I'm gone," he said.

Peter Krawietz, Pepijn Lijnders, and Sven Bender will serve as assistant coaches for the Germany national team. Jürgen Klopp's agent Marc Kosicke will join the coaching team in a role focusing on strategy and administration but will not be a federation employee.

Rudi Völler retained his position within the German Football Association. He noted Völler's continued involvement, stating, "Rudi will be an incredibly important contact person. His experience, his outlook on life, his ability to get angry at the right moments – I want all of that in my team."

Klopp is the 13th head coach of the Germany men's national team. His contract begins on August 15, 2026.

His first match as Germany head coach will be against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24, 2026, in the UEFA Nations League. Germany will play Greece on September 27, 2026, at the WWK Arena in Augsburg.

Per Mertesacker will become the DFB's managing director for sport in January 2027. Klopp previously worked as a TV pundit for MagentaTV during the 2026 World Cup.

Before his role at Red Bull, Klopp managed Liverpool, where he won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. He cited fatigue as the reason for leaving Liverpool in 2024.

"My time at Red Bull has been an incredibly rewarding chapter. Honestly, I hadn’t expected it to come to an end this soon," he said in a statement.

The appointment places a high-profile manager at the helm of a national team that has struggled in recent World Cups. Germany, a high income economy with its capital in Berlin, has seen its international performance decline since its 2014 title win. The DFB, the governing body of association football in Germany, secured Klopp through unique arrangements involving Red Bull.

The deal includes financial contributions to a charitable foundation and commitments to host matches at a specific venue. These terms highlight the complex negotiations required to attract top managerial talent. The events surrounding the appointment span from 2014 to 2027, marking a significant period in German football history.