Jürgen Klopp Is Close to Becoming Germany’s New Football Coach – Explained Simply

What Happened?

On Saturday, July 11, 2026, the German football federation (the group that runs Germany’s national football team, like a boss for the sport) announced that Jürgen Klopp has agreed to the “key points” of a deal to become the new head coach of the Germany team.

• A head coach is the main boss who trains the team and decides how they play.
• “Key points” means the big, important parts of the job contract are settled, but not every tiny detail is finished.
• The former coach, Julian Nagelsmann, quit after his team failed to reach the round of 16 (a stage where only 16 teams are left) for the third World Cup in a row.

Who Is Jürgen Klopp?

Think of Klopp as a superstar teacher for football teams. He is a famous coach who has won lots of shiny trophies.

• He won many awards with Liverpool (a famous English team) and Borussia Dortmund (a German team).
• He left Liverpool in 2024 after winning a full set of trophies there, including the Champions League (a huge Europe‑wide club contest) and the Premier League (England’s top league).
• Right now, he works as an executive (a big boss) for the Red Bull group, in charge of soccer around the world. He has also been a TV expert (called a pundit) for German TV during the World Cup, even doing post‑game interviews with Nagelsmann on the field.
• He is 59 years old and is regarded as one of the best coaches in the game.

He told German TV last week: “About two years ago I stopped at Liverpool and said that I lacked the energy for another job… Since then I’m more than recharged, I’m ready.” That means he feels fresh and eager to work again.

Why Does Germany Need a New Coach?

Germany won the World Cup (the biggest football tournament on the planet) in 2014. But since then, things went poorly:

• In 2018 and 2022, they were knocked out in the group stage (the first round where teams are put in small groups).
• This year (2026), the tournament got bigger with 48 teams. Germany got past the group stage but lost to Paraguay on penalties (a shootout tie‑breaker) in the newly added round of 32 (a stage with 32 teams left).
• After that loss, Nagelsmann resigned.

Important Point: The federation said talks were held in New York on Friday with Klopp, president Bernd Neuendorf, and vice president Hans‑Joachim Watzke. Both sides are confident, but the deal is not final until they also get agreement from Klopp’s current employer, Red Bull.

What Are the Next Steps?

Here is what must happen before Klopp officially takes the job:

1. Klopp and the German federation finalize all contract details.
2. They get permission from Red Bull (his current boss) to leave his executive role.
3. The federation publicly announces Klopp as the new head coach.
4. Klopp starts coaching the national team for future games.

Klopp’s Winning History

Why is everyone excited? Because Klopp has a magic touch:

• With Dortmund, he broke the long dominance of Bayern Munich (a German giant) by winning two league titles.
• He took over Liverpool in 2015 and ended their 30‑year wait for an English league title in 2020.
• He won the Champions League and a total of seven major trophies at Liverpool. He might have won even more, but he was competing against a very strong Manchester City team led by Pep Guardiola.
• There was speculation he would return to coaching sooner; as recently as March, he denied he would join Real Madrid (a famous Spanish club).

What Klopp Said About Germany’s Exit

After Germany’s World Cup loss, Klopp said there was a “need to change things fundamentally” (meaning big changes are needed). But he also said Nagelsmann was an “excellent coach” who was not to blame for the disappointing campaign.

Other Stories Mentioned in the Original Report

The article also pointed readers to related news:

• Klopp once revealed private discussions about Kylian Mbappé and Liverpool on a private jet before Mbappé moved to PSG.
• Germany’s Manuel Neuer retired from international football after the World Cup exit, saying he had “no regrets.”
• The Chancellor of Germany was mocked for praising the team’s “spirit” after the loss to Paraguay.

Summary

To wrap up: Jürgen Klopp, a hugely successful former coach of Dortmund and Liverpool, has agreed to the main parts of a deal to coach Germany’s national football team. This follows the previous coach’s resignation after repeated early World Cup exits. Talks took place in New York, and while both sides are hopeful, they still need Red Bull’s okay. Klopp says he is recharged and ready. Germany hopes his winning habits will bring back glory.

FAQ

Q1: What does “head coach” mean in football?
A: The head coach is the person in charge of training the players, choosing the team, and deciding game plans—like the captain of the ship for the squad.

Q2: Why did Julian Nagelsmann leave his job?
A: He resigned because Germany failed to reach the round of 16 at the World Cup for the third time running, meaning the team kept performing below expectations.

Q3: What is the “round of 32” and why is it new?
A: In the 2026 World Cup there were 48 teams instead of 32, so they added a stage where 32 teams remain (right after the group stage). Germany lost in that round to Paraguay on penalties.

Q4: Is Klopp definitely the new coach now?
A: Not yet. They agreed on key points, but the contract must be finalized and Red Bull must approve his departure before it is official.

Q5: How long has Klopp been away from coaching?
A: He left Liverpool in 2024 and had not been a coach since then—about two years—working for Red Bull and as a TV expert instead.

This article is based on a report from ESPN, with contributions from The Associated Press and PA.