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Jürgen Klopp's two-year break from management appears to be drawing to a close, with the Germany national team set to bring him back into the dugout.
Klopp has been a prominent presence at the 2026 World Cup, though as a television pundit rather than a manager on the sidelines. He was outspoken in his criticism of alleged meddling by President Trump and the U.S. government regarding the reversal of Folarin Balogun's red card, and expressed strong emotions over Germany's "most unpleasant" early tournament exit.
He also quipped that "Julian Nagelsmann is still picking the team—for now," a remark that drew sharp backlash from German football icons Andreas Möller and Stefan Effenberg. Klopp subsequently issued an apology.
Nagelsmann departed the role shortly after a debrief between the former Bayern Munich coach and the German Football Association (DFB), and Klopp—who had insisted upon leaving Liverpool that he had no intention of ever managing again—quickly emerged as the frontrunner for the position.
In recent weeks, Klopp has shifted his stance, confirming he feels "recharged" and ready to return to management, with the prospect of rebuilding Germany's standing on the international stage holding particular appeal.
The DFB took the notable step of publicly naming Klopp as its preferred candidate in the very statement that announced Nagelsmann's departure, confirming it would enter discussions with him. Those talks, according to several reports, appear to have resulted in an "agreement in principle."
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Bringing Klopp on board is not as simple as sliding a contract across the table for his signature. The 56-year-old has been serving as head of global soccer for the Red Bull Group, overseeing its network of clubs with the aim of fostering their growth and increasing their influence.
His contract reportedly includes a specific release clause tied to the German national team role, hinting that Klopp has always kept the possibility in mind—the timing simply remained an open question.
It is anticipated that Klopp will sign a four-year deal once the DFB completes negotiations for his release from Red Bull, meaning he would be at the helm for both Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup—assuming Germany qualifies.
"DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke held their first in-depth talks with Jürgen Klopp yesterday in New York regarding his potential appointment as national team coach," a statement confirmed on Saturday. "During the constructive exchange, an agreement was reached on the key points of a potential contract. Talks will continue next week."
The statement concluded that "both sides" are optimistic that a deal can be finalised, suggesting Red Bull's willingness to facilitate Klopp's departure.
Klopp Following in the Footsteps of Managerial Elite
In a growing trend, some of the world's most celebrated managers are gravitating toward international football after experiencing considerable burnout at club level.
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Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino are currently in charge of Brazil, England and the United States respectively, while the widely-travelled club manager Jorge Jesus is set to take the reins at Portugal following Roberto Martínez's exit.
It is also widely anticipated that Zinedine Zidane will transition into international management after the World Cup, taking over from Didier Deschamps as France boss—who has already confirmed he will step down after 14 years in the role.