Once revered as Liverpool’s saviour, Jürgen Klopp is now being asked to spark a national revival.
Just last month, working as a touchline TV pundit, Klopp watched Germany tumble out of the World Cup on penalties in a shock defeat to Paraguay.
The exit led head coach Julian Nagelsmann to step down and plunged German football into a deep identity crisis.
Three weeks on, Klopp has been entrusted with repairing the damage and reviving the nation’s famed winning mindset, signing a four-year contract as head coach.
Tasked with guiding the side through Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup, his first game will be against the Netherlands on 24 September.
“The national team can unite us Germans like almost nothing else. That’s exactly what makes this role so special for me,” Klopp said.
A Champions League and Premier League winner with Liverpool and a two-time Bundesliga champion with Borussia Dortmund, the 59-year-old is already regarded as one of Germany’s finest managers.
Many see him as the ideal fit, yet the appointment has also triggered intense debate in Germany.
For the German football association (DFB), landing Klopp became the top priority after Nagelsmann’s resignation.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said Klopp “embodies passion, credibility, and the ability to inspire people”.
“Following Julian Nagelsmann’s departure, he was our clear first choice for national coach, and we pursued him relentlessly,” Neuendorf added.
Now the agreement is sealed.