Klopp tipped to replace Nagelsmann after Germany’s World Cup exit

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Julian Nagelsmann as Germany head coach, with reports claiming the German Football Association (DFB) is preparing to part ways with the 38-year-old following another disappointing FIFA 2026 World Cup campaign.

According to German tabloid Bild, Nagelsmann was offered a severance package worth €7 million ($8 million) during a three-hour meeting at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt on Thursday.

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Nagelsmann, whose contract was extended in January 2025 until 2028, has come under intense pressure after Germany crashed out of the World Cup in the Round of 32, losing on penalties to Paraguay.

The defeat marked Germany’s third consecutive early World Cup exit, following group-stage eliminations at the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2022 edition in Qatar. It was also the four-time world champions’ first knockout-stage appearance since lifting the trophy in Brazil in 2014.

In the aftermath of the shock elimination, DFB president Bernd Neuendorf announced an immediate review into the national team’s World Cup failure.

A final decision on Nagelsmann’s future is expected “by the beginning of next week at the latest”, according to AFP’s German sports subsidiary SID.

Klopp leads the race

Several German media outlets, including Sky Germany and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, report that Klopp is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Nagelsmann.

The 59-year-old stepped away from coaching after ending his successful nine-year spell at Liverpool in 2024. Since then, he has served as Head of Global Football at Red Bull, overseeing the company’s multi-club network, which includes teams in Germany, Austria, Brazil, the United States and Japan.

Klopp has long been linked with the Germany job but previously resisted taking over the national team while managing at club level.

Should the DFB appoint him, it would mark Klopp’s first managerial role since leaving Anfield and hand Germany one of the game’s most accomplished coaches as they seek to rebuild following another disappointing World Cup campaign.