Klopp wants job as Nagelsmann resigns

Former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp wants to become Germany coach, the German Football Federation (DFB) said on Friday after announcing Julian Nagelsmann's resignation following their early World Cup exit. 'With regard to filling the coaching post, the DFB leadership will now seek talks with Jürgen Klopp,' a statement said. 'He has already signalled his fundamental willingness to take on the position.' German national Klopp is currently the head of Red Bull's global football operations. The 59-year-old, who clinched two German championships with Borussia Dortmund before winning the Premier League and Champions League, left Liverpool two years ago, saying he wanted a break from the touchline. Nagelsmann's fate was sealed after the four-time men's champions lost4-3 on penalties against outsiders Paraguay in the first knock-outround game on Monday, with most of the media criticism directed at the coach. 'Stakeholder representatives and the supervisory board of DFB GmbH &Co. KG on Friday unanimously decided, on the proposal of DFB president Bernd Neuendorf, to immediately terminate the contractual relationship with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann,' the DFB added. 'Nagelsmann had already asked in a confidential conversation with the federation's leadership the previous day to be released from his duties. The stakeholder representatives and supervisory board have now granted that request.' First World Cup penalties defeat The former Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich coach, 38, landed the national team job in September 2023 when succeeding Hansi Flick. He oversaw 37 matches, of which Germany won 23, with seven draws and seven defeats. He led the team to the quarter-finals of the home Euros in 2024, where they narrowly lost to eventual champions Spain, and to the Nations League finals last year. Nagelsmann then targeted a fifth World Cup title in North America. After winning their first two matches, 7-1 against Curaçao and 2-1 in stoppage time against Ivory Coast, Germany lost the last group game2-1 against Ecuador and then a penalty shoot-out for the first time at the global event following a 1-1 draw with Paraguay. His tactics at the World Cup and brusque manner with players such as Deniz Undav, as well as some reporters, also appear to have contributed to his departure. Reports have speculated that the DFB wanted the coach gone but asked him to quit so his severance pay would not be as large as if they had sacked him. His contract ran until 2028.

Departing coach 'deeply sorry' Nagelsmann said: 'The decision was anything but easy for me. My top goal was always the team's success. After such a bitter disappointment, they deserve the chance of a fresh start free of baggage.' To Germany fans, he added: 'I am deeply sorry, and it hurts that we disappointed you and were not able to give you any more football nights at this World Cup. You would have deserved much more!' His two assistants, Benjamin Glück and Benjamin Hübner, will also leave the DFB. Managing director for sport Andreas Rettig will also quit at the end of the year, but there was no mention about the future of sporting director and 1990 World Cup winner Rudi Völler. Nagelsmann reported to Völler and was largely his choice. Völler said: 'Following a World Cup exit that was a disappointment for absolutely everyone, Julian's decision deserves our respect. 'He is taking responsibility in an area where he would have liked to continue shaping the team's future, and is putting the national team as a whole before his own interests.' Nagelsmann started his tenure as Germany coach with a training session in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in October 2023, and the town close to Boston also saw his final appearance as Paraguay prevailed. A bullish Nagelsmann ruled out resigning immediately after the match. It was the third early World Cup exit in a row for Germany, but unlike in 2018 and 2022, when Löw and Flick were retained despite not getting out of the group, the DFB has taken action. A number of former Germany players hit out at Nagelsmann for recalling goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from international retirement, not playing captain Joshua Kimmich in midfield and not attending enough games to watch his players or opponents before the tournament. Regular visits from family members at the World Cup also surprised pundits, who felt the squad should be concentrating on football. Germany's next match is their Nations League start on September 24 in the Netherlands. Greece and Serbia are the other opponents in the group stage which runs until November. The DFB will hope to have Klopp in place long before then, but must first agree a deal with Red Bull's sports division, which runs clubs around the world such as RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls. Klopp is still at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada as a Magenta TV pundit. He would have a big job on his hands, given Germany have struggled across tournaments since winning the World Cup under Löw in 2014. Asked at this World Cup about replacing Nagelsmann when Germany went out, Klopp told Magenta: 'I understand that my name is brought into play. But it is not the right moment to talk about it.' He caused a furore earlier in the tournament when he said Nagelsmann was in the job 'for now.' Klopp apologised for the joke. — dpa