Jurgen Klopp tasked with leading Germany till 2030 World Cup

FRANKFURT – Two years after stepping down from Liverpool citing a lack of energy, Jurgen Klopp has returned to the dugout to oversee the mammoth task of restoring German football to its former glory.

The 59-year-old was unveiled as the new Germany coach on July 24, an appointment that had been widely expected for weeks.

Klopp’s contract will see him through to the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and includes three centenary matches in South America.

He had spoken publicly of his desire to take on the role after predecessor Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation earlier in July.

The 39-year-old fell on his sword after a disappointing last-32 defeat on penalties by Paraguay at the World Cup – Germany’s third consecutive early exit since winning the tournament in 2014.

At a press conference in Frankfurt to announce his appointment, Klopp said: “This is ideally the high point of my career, of my life, my professional life. I will give it everything I have.”

The German tactician, who said that he is looking to “develop a team that fights for each other”, also warned the assembled reporters that “if tomorrow you start saying, ‘He’s crap’, then I’m off”.

Klopp added: “I’m far from perfect. We’ve got a few weeks until the first international break. I think that’s enough time to get prepared.

“I want to look towards the most successful Germany coaches who also developed in the most successful way.”

Germany’s football association (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf, who called Klopp the “ideal candidate from the start”, said his contract would start on Aug 15 and run until the summer of 2030.

Since 2025, Klopp has been under contract until 2029 with Austrian energy-drink maker Red Bull as its head of global soccer, overseeing its affiliated football clubs such as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls.

Neuendorf thanked the organisation for its willingness to end the contract early as Klopp would need his “full concentration” for the new job.

The DFB did not have to pay a fee but will instead make a donation of €1 million (S$1.5 million) to Red Bull’s Wings for Life charity foundation, which supports research into spinal cord injuries.

Klopp will be assisted by Peter Krawietz, Pepijn Lijnders and former Germany international Sven Bender.

The DFB also appointed former Germany defender Per Mertesacker, a member of the country’s 2014 World Cup-winning side, as managing director for sport. He will succeed Andreas Rettig and has signed a contract running until the 2030 tournament.

The challenges facing Klopp and his staff are numerous.

Germany have won four World Cups – the joint-most of any European team with Italy – and three European Championships, one behind Spain. But they have struggled in recent years.

In a decade since making the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Germany have won just one knockout-stage match across three editions of the World Cup and two of the European Championship.

Klopp will look to build the team around gifted playmakers Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, who are both 23.

Joshua Kimmich has worn the captain’s armband since 2024, but will be 33 by Euro 2028.

In goal, Manuel Neuer came out of international retirement for one last stint at the World Cup at the age of 40.

Klopp’s hotly anticipated international debut will come on Sept 24 against the Netherlands in the Nations League.

As one of Germany’s most prominent tacticians, he began his coaching career at Mainz and tasted success at Borussia Dortmund before joining Liverpool.

Under Klopp, the Reds won the English Premier League to break a 30-year drought, lifted the Champions League trophy for the sixth time and clinched a domestic cup double in 2021-22, before he stepped down in 2024.

Having turned “doubters into believers”, he must pull off that feat one more time – at international level. AFP, REUTERS