Jurgen Klopp becomes leading candidate for Germany job as Julian Nagelsmann faces nervous wait
Jurgen Klopp is the leading candidate to replace Julian Nagelsmann as Germany boss, talkSPORT understands.
Nagelsmann’s future has been plunged into jeopardy after Germany crashed out of the World Cup with a shock defeat on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32.
The former Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig manager is understood to be keen to stay on.
However, the DfB (German Football Association) are considering whether to keep Nagelsmann or go in a different direction.
Sources have told talkSPORT that Klopp has already been approached for the role and several senior figures in the DfB are in favour of making a change.
Writing on the wall for Nagelsmann
After group stage exits in 2018 and 2022, it was another poor World Cup performance for Germany, as they lost their first knockout match in the 2026 tournament, losing on penalties at a World Cup for the first time in their history.
Jonathan Tah missed a decisive sudden-death penalty on Monday night, which allowed Jose Canale to fire Paraguay to a shock 4-3 shootout win after the knockout game had finished 1-1.
After Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade both missed earlier on in the shootout, the South American nation passed up their first two opportunities to win the marathon match.
Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena failed to convert, as Germany dragged themselves level to force sudden death.
Klopp ‘perfect’ for Germany job
The result left talkSPORT commentator Kevin Hatchard fearing for the future of Germany boss Nagelsmann but also feeling the legendary former Liverpool boss is the standout candidate.
Hatchard said post-match: “Yes, Nagelsmann has a contract until the next Euros, but serious questions are going to be asked.”
He then continued: “There’s going to be a big clamour for Jurgen Klopp… he’s at Red Bull, but I think the one role he’d leave this role for is the German national team. He’s really popular in Germany.”
And talkSPORT’s European football expert, Andy Brassell, believes that Klopp would be perfect for the job.
Brassell said: “This is the perfect time for Klopp…the German FA have had off-the-books talks with him for years.
“If he was announced in a week, it wouldn’t knock me over. He’s someone who gets German football culture and someone who can unite the public behind the team.
“You’re talking about a guy who’s massively popular within the culture and even before he was Dortmund coach.”
Former Germany international Robert Huth has echoed those thoughts on Klopp, believing everyone would back him too.
Huth told talkSPORT: “I think 99 per cent of Germany would like Klopp in the manager’s seat, he represents everything they need at the moment – energy, passion, relentlessness.
“It’s inevitable that Nagelsmann will go and I think Klopp would take it for sure, he’s loved by pretty much everyone.”
Nagelsmann vows to fight on
However, speaking after his side were knocked out in the last 32, the manager confirmed he would not resign.
“I am not someone who runs away,” Nagelsmann said. “This is not the first time this has happened, and there are some things about today that need to be changed. But if the DFB wants me to continue I am going to continue.
“I know the mechanics of football. I know how the industry works. I know a lot of people will want me to leave, but I would love to continue if the DFB wants me to.”
Nagelsmann was appointed national team boss in 2023, replacing Hansi Flick in the role.
In his first major tournament, Euro 2024, he led Germany to the semi-finals of the home tournament, where they were beaten by eventual winners Spain after extra time.
Despite missing out on glory, he was awarded a new contract until Euro 2028 in January 2025.
But it now remains to be seen if the 38-year-old will stay in the job until then, with Klopp sure to be among those considered if Germany do opt for a change in management.
The iconic former Liverpool boss has not managed since his Anfield departure in 2024, and has never coached internationally.
Klopp is currently working for Red Bull as their head of global soccer, a role he has held since the start of last year.
Despite his new role, where he earns an estimated £8-10million, and stating previously he does not ‘miss coaching’, Klopp has been linked to a swathe of vacancies across Europe’s elite.
Meanwhile, talkSPORT’s Ally McCoist previously tipped him to take charge of either England or Germany as his next role.
More German misery
Germany’s shock exit sees their World Cup woes continue. The footballing giants have been eliminated early on each occasion since their 2014 triumph.
In both 2018 and 2022, they failed to progress beyond the group stage, but sailed through to the knockouts this time around.
Nagelsmann’s side had topped Group E to banish their past demons, but looked far from the challengers they were expected to be against Paraguay.
They struggled to break down their South American opponents, only managing to force extra-time thanks to Havertz’s second-half equaliser.
And while Germany suffered unwanted history as they finally fell victim to a World Cup shootout defeat, their opponents celebrated a first of their own.
Paraguay had never won a World Cup knockout match before, and will now face either France or Sweden in Philadelphia on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals.
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