Jürgen Klopp has officially been named head coach of the German national football team, the country’s football association (DFB) announced on Friday.
The former Liverpool manager has been tasked with reviving the fortunes of the four-time world champions following a string of disappointing international results.
Klopp’s appointment, widely anticipated for weeks, comes with a contract that extends through the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The deal also covers the centenary World Cup matches planned for South America that same year.
The 59-year-old accepted the position after Julian Nagelsmann resigned earlier in July, following Germany’s exit in the round of 32 at the hands of Paraguay—the nation’s third consecutive early World Cup departure since their 2014 triumph. Klopp’s openness to taking the helm hastened the transition, as he was the DFB’s preferred candidate.
It’s a great honour for me to be here today, Klopp said at his introductory press conference in Frankfurt. This is perhaps the pinnacle of my professional life. I will give everything for this role. He added with characteristic humor, “But if tomorrow you start saying: He’s rubbish, then I’m off.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf confirmed Klopp’s contract will begin on August 15 and run until the summer of 2030. Klopp had been under contract with Red Bull as Head of Global Soccer through 2029, overseeing clubs like RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg, but Red Bull agreed to release him early. In lieu of a fee, the DFB will donate one million euros ($1.1 million) to Red Bull’s Wings for Life foundation, which supports spinal cord injury research.
Klopp faces a monumental challenge in restoring Germany’s international standing. Despite their illustrious history—four World Cups and three European Championships—the team has struggled in recent years, winning just one knockout match across the last three World Cups and two Euros. Their most recent World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, losing to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32.
