DFB Targets Jurgen Klopp After Germany's Last-32 World Cup Exit Forces Nagelsmann Out
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 3
DFB Targets Jurgen Klopp After Germany's Last-32 World Cup Exit Forces Nagelsmann Out
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 3
Summary
Julian Nagelsmann resigned on Thursday, and the DFB said it had immediately ended his contract and would open talks with Jurgen Klopp, who has already signalled a general willingness to take the job.
Germany's coaching change followed Monday's last-32 World Cup exit, when the four-time champions lost to Paraguay on penalties after another tournament that fell well short of federation standards.
Nagelsmann, 38, had initially said he would stay, but later said the team needed a fresh start after the "bitter disappointment"; DFB officials said his decision showed responsibility.
Klopp, 59, has been out of management since leaving Liverpool in 2024 and now works as Red Bull's head of global football, making any appointment a high-profile and potentially costly reset for Germany.
Will paying an unprecedented fee to poach Klopp finally end Germany's decade-long trophy drought since their last World Cup win?
Can Jürgen Klopp's charisma fix a broken talent system that is now losing its best young players to rival nations?
Germany’s 2026 World Cup Failure: Nagelsmann Out, Klopp Pursued Amid Decade-Long Decline and Urgent DFB Reforms
Overview
Germany's disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup led to the immediate departure of coach Julian Nagelsmann, whose exit on July 3, 2026, marked the start of a major revaluation for German football. The German Football Association (DFB) acted swiftly, feeling a strong urgency to address the team's poor performance. Nagelsmann's departure came at a significant cost, as he had signed a new contract in January 2025. This sequence of events highlights the DFB's determination to make rapid changes and signals the beginning of a critical period of reflection and reform for German football.