German soccer officials conducted discussions with Jurgen Klopp and expressed confidence that he will become the new national team coach, the federation announced on Saturday. Previous coach Julian Nagelsmann stepped down after the team missed the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive time.
Klopp, who secured multiple trophies during his time at Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, emerged as the leading candidate to replace him.
The federation stated that meetings took place in New York on Friday with Klopp, who currently serves as head of global soccer for the Red Bull group.
“In the constructive exchange, an understanding was reached on essential key points of a potential contract,” the statement said. “Both sides are confident that the negotiations, subject to an agreement with Klopp’s current employer Red Bull, can ultimately be successfully concluded.”
Klopp has been working as a television pundit during the World Cup and conducted post-match interviews alongside Nagelsmann.
He has not coached since departing Liverpool in 2024, where he collected every major trophy including the Champions League and Premier League.
“About two years ago I stopped at Liverpool and said that I lacked the energy for another job or for another year with Liverpool. Since then I’m more than recharged, I’m ready,” he told a German broadcaster last week.
Germany has struggled at the World Cup since claiming the title in 2014. The team exited in the group stage in both 2018 and 2022. This year the side reached the round of 32 in the expanded tournament but lost to Paraguay on penalties.
Klopp met with federation president Bernd Neuendorf and vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke.
The 59-year-old rose to prominence by ending Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga with two titles at Borussia Dortmund. He joined Liverpool in 2015 and ended the club’s 30-year title drought in 2020 while also securing the Champions League and six other major honors.
