Jürgen Klopp is closing in on a return to management as Germany's next head coach, with the German Football Association (DFB) confirming on Saturday that both parties have reached an agreement on the key points of a potential deal. The 58-year-old — who turns 59 imminently — is expected to sign a contract running through to 2030, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann following a turbulent World Cup exit.

The deal taking shape

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke flew to New York for face-to-face talks with Klopp, and the noises out of that meeting are firmly positive. A formal DFB statement read: "During the constructive exchange, an agreement was reached on the key points of a potential contract. Talks will continue next week. Both sides are confident that the negotiations — subject to an agreement with Klopp's current employer, Red Bull — can ultimately be successfully concluded."

Any final contract will need to be ratified by a joint meeting of the DFB's supervisory board and shareholders' meeting, so it is not yet a done deal. But the direction of travel is clear.

Why Nagelsmann is out

Germany navigated their World Cup group stage comfortably, topping the section with a game to spare, but the wheels came off sharply afterwards. An unexpected defeat to Ecuador in their final group match was followed by elimination on penalties to Paraguay in the last 32 — a bruising end for a squad many had tipped to go deep in the tournament.

Nagelsmann was defiant in the immediate aftermath, insisting he was not someone who walked away from a fight, but on 3 July the DFB confirmed he would step down. His contract, which had been set to run until the 2028 European Championship, ends with immediate effect.

Klopp's road back to the dugout

Klopp has been away from club management since bringing the curtain down on a transformative era at Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season — a spell that brought Premier League and Champions League titles to Anfield. He subsequently moved into a broader role as Red Bull's head of global soccer, a position that will require an agreed release before the Germany appointment can be finalised.

His visibility has remained high throughout this summer's World Cup, where he has been working as a pundit for German television. That role, however, generated its own controversy. Klopp suggested Deniz Undav should start ahead of Jamal Musiala, which drew criticism from figures including Lothar Matthäus. Then, when musing on the national team coaching position, he let slip a pointed "for now" — as in, Nagelsmann was still picking the team "for now" — a comment that sparked a furious reaction from former German internationals Andreas Möller and Stefan Effenberg.

Klopp moved quickly to apologise, saying he felt like "punching himself in the face" over the slip. "It just slipped out so casually and has absolutely no meaning," he said at the time, adding — with characteristic self-deprecation — that at nearly 59 years old he was "still an idiot." The DFB's statement noted that Klopp had already signalled his "fundamental readiness" to take the position, suggesting the controversy did little lasting damage to discussions.

What comes next

Further talks are scheduled for next week. The primary outstanding hurdle is reaching a release agreement with Red Bull, whose buy-in the DFB has publicly flagged as a condition of completing the deal. Once that is resolved, the supervisory board must give its formal blessing. The market has already begun moving in the expectation that this one gets over the line.

If confirmed, Klopp becomes one of the most high-profile national team appointments in European football for years — a figure whose name alone carries weight capable of shifting the mood around a German public frustrated by another early World Cup exit.

Frequently asked

Is Klopp officially the Germany manager yet?
Not quite. The DFB has confirmed both parties have agreed on the key points of a contract, but talks are ongoing next week and a formal release from Red Bull — Klopp's current employer — must be secured before any deal can be signed.
Why did Julian Nagelsmann leave as Germany head coach?
Germany were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup in the last 32, losing to Paraguay on penalties after also being beaten by Ecuador in the group stage. Nagelsmann stepped down on 3 July, with his contract ending with immediate effect.
What has Klopp been doing since leaving Liverpool?
After departing Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season, Klopp took on the role of head of global soccer at Red Bull. He has also been working as a pundit for German TV during the 2026 World Cup.