Jurgen Klopp has been working for German station MagentaTV at the World Cup – but the Liverpool legend could be set for a return to management this summer
07:55, 03 Jul 2026Updated 11:38, 03 Jul 2026
Jurgen Klopp could be set for a return to the dugout(Image: (Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images))
The German Football Association have confirmed they will hold talks with Jurgen Klopp after he expressed a willingness to replace Julian Nagelsmann. The departure of Nagelsmann comes after Germany lost on penalties to Paraguay in the last-32 of the World Cup on Monday, marking a miserable end to the four-time champions’ campaign in North America.
The former Bayern Munich boss had previously insisted he would not quit, but scrutiny on his reign intensified following the defeat in Boston. And his departure was eventually confirmed in a statement released by the German Football Association on Friday afternoon, which also confirmed the DFB plans to hold talks with the former Liverpool boss Klopp regarding the vacancy.
“The shareholders’ representatives and the supervisory board of DFB GmbH & Co. KG today unanimously decided, on the proposal of DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, to immediately terminate the contractual relationship with national team coach Julian Nagelsmann,” the statement confirmed.
“Julian Nagelsmann had already requested to be relieved of his duties the previous day in a confidential meeting with the association’s leadership following the disappointing outcome of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. This request has now been granted by the shareholders’ representatives and the supervisory board.”
Before it continued: “Regarding the appointment of a new coach, the DFB leadership will now seek talks with Jürgen Klopp. He has already signaled his general willingness to take on the position.”
Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager in the summer of 2024, after almost nine years in charge, to take a break from management.
The Kop icon has since become global head of soccer for the Red Bull group, but he has an agreement in place that would allow him to leave the company and become Germany’s boss if the DFB came calling.
Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly resigned(Image: (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images))
Klopp has been in the US working as a pundit for MagentaTV, and they asked whether he would consider replacing Nagelsmann should a vacancy arise.
“I haven’t thought about that yet,” he said. “I understand that my name is being mentioned now, but it’s not the time to talk about that.”
During his time in charge of the Reds, the German won the Champions League and Premier League and apologised to Nagelsmann at the start of the World Cup after branding himself an ‘idiot’ for referencing that the former Bayern Munich coach was ‘still’ picking the team.
The repetition of the word ‘still’ sparked a debate back in Germany over whether Klopp was questioning Nagelsmann’s future in the role and drew criticism from Lothar Matthaus.
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“I’d like to see what Klopp would have said if an expert had advised him to bench one of his regular starters before an important Champions League match,” the Bayern and German great said. “Such interference isn’t well received, especially among fellow coaches.”
Speaking after Germany emphatically defeated Curacao 7-1 to begin their World Cup campaign perfectly, Klopp apologised directly to Nagelsmann after the game.
He said: “I’ve already found the most hated word of the year: ‘Still’. I could have punched myself in the face for that, but it was already too late and I was on TV. It just slipped out so casually and has absolutely no relevance.”
Before he added: “There’s one more thing I have to say… we still need to make time for this. We’re also informally part of the team, we’re absolutely on your side.
“What I’ve realised is: I’ll be 59 the day after tomorrow, and I’m still an idiot. We are completely on your side, whatever you do. Nothing was intended to come of it to disrupt the process here.”
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