Reporting by Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and The Associated Press.

National team managers face intense scrutiny in European football, particularly when historical giants experience prolonged tournament struggles.

Published On 24 Jul 202624 Jul 2026

Germany has hired Jurgen Klopp to coach its national team, giving the ex-Liverpool manager a daunting task to turn around the fortunes of a squad which failed yet again at the World Cup.

The German Football Association (DFB) has been engaged in discussions with Klopp—celebrated for his managerial achievements at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool—to guide the traditional football powerhouse back to the top.

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After leaving Liverpool in 2024 due to exhaustion, Klopp noted that he felt “recharged” while negotiating the national team position.

The 59-year-old is among the most decorated football coaches of his generation and is expected to sign a contract with Germany that runs until 2030, the date of the next World Cup.

Since 2025, Klopp has been under contract with Austrian energy drink maker Red Bull as “Head of Global Soccer”, where he oversees the football clubs affiliated with the company such as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls.

According to German media reports Red Bull released Klopp from his deal without a transfer fee, instead accepting a million-euro ($1.1m) donation to Red Bull’s Wings for Life charity foundation, which supports research into spinal cord injuries.

The DFB dismissed former head coach Julian Nagelsmann after Germany crashed out of this summer’s World Cup in disappointing fashion, losing to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32.

That means the German men’s team has suffered three straight World Cup debacles since winning their fourth title in 2014.

Germany made first-round exits in both 2018 and 2022. They have won just one knockout match at the past five major tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals as hosts at Euro 2024.

Klopp had successful coaching tenures at German clubs Mainz – where he was a player for more than a decade – and then Dortmund.

He then became a legend at Liverpool, where he coached the English side to a league title in 2020 – ending a 30-year drought. He also led the club to a Champions League triumph, their sixth European crown.

The DFB parted ways with Julian Nagelsmann following a penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the round of 32 at this summer's World Cup. This elimination marked the third consecutive tournament disappointment for the German men's team since their fourth World Cup victory in 2014. Klopp is slated to remain in charge through the 2030 World Cup under a contract expected to run until that tournament. Before taking the international post, he served as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer, a role he left following a reported million-euro ($1.1m) donation to the Wings for Life charity foundation.