Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp could be offered national team job after EURO 2024: Reports
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could be offered the opportunity to manage the German national side after EURO 2024. According to reports from Spain (cited by TEAMTalk), the 57-year-old could be back in a managerial role just months after he departed from Anfield.
Klopp concluded a highly successful nine-year spell at Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. He helped the Reds win the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League title and the 2019-20 Premier League among other honors.
The German tactician has only managed three teams thus far, with all being at the club level. He has taken charge of German sides Mainz 05 (2001-08), Borussia Dortmund (2008-15), and Liverpool (2015-24), but has never coached a national team.
However, that could change over the summer, after the emergence of reports highlighting the German national team's discontent with manager Julian Nagelsmann. Despite being one of the favorites to win EURO 2024 on home soil, Die Mannschaft crashed out at the hands of Spain (2-1) in the quarter-finals.
Despite Klopp being the favorite, Nagelsmann was hired after the sacking of Hansi Flick just 10 months ago (September 2023), signing a contract until EURO 2024. Following Germany's solid performances, he was even handed a contract extension until the 2026 FIFA World Cup in April 2024.
Yet, the German administration seems to have lost faith in Nagelsmann and is seriously considering parting ways with him. With their focus on the 2026 World Cup, they are keen on appointing Klopp to help lead the side to glory.
"That would be a great honor" - Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp when linked with Germany's head-coaching role in 2021
In 2021, Jurgen Klopp claimed that it would be a 'great honor' to be appointed as the head coach of Germany. Although he did re-affirm his commitment to Liverpool at the time, the statement rules out his aversion to the role if given the opportunity.
In an interview with Sport Bild, Klopp said (via football365):
"The important thing is, I didn’t say that I didn’t want to become a national coach, but that I cannot. There is a very clear commitment. I have an important role here at Liverpool... There is no way to say, ‘Oh, national coach, that would be an interesting job’. That would be a great honour without question, but the timing is not right."
At the time, Klopp had a contract with Liverpool lasting until 2026. However, he departed the Premier League giants at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Reports have claimed that the German national side are seriously weighing up the option of sacking current manager Julian Nagelsmann. Klopp's name is doing the rounds as one of the favorites to replace the 36-year-old.
While the Champions League-winning coach claimed that the timing was not right in 2021, the stars could potentially align for him and Germany this summer.