Jurgen Klopp takes over as Germany manager on a four-year contract, with the former Liverpool boss not holding back in his first press conference with the media.
Manager Jurgen Klopp speaks at his first press conference as Germany manager (Image: Markus Ulmer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Manager Jurgen Klopp threatened to resign as Germany national team coach on his first day in office. The former Liverpool manager immediately hit the offensive after it was announced on Friday that he would replace Julian Nagelsmann on a four-year deal.
The 59-year-old has resigned from his role as Red Bull’s global head of football to help rebuild the team after they were eliminated in the last 32 of the World Cup by Paraguay. Klopp will work alongside former Liverpool assistants Pep Reijnders and Peter Krawitz.
He left Liverpool in 2024, tired of the hard work and enjoying a break from the spotlight. And while the national team job is a dream come true, Klopp does not expect increased scrutiny.
It had been an open secret for some time that Klopp would replace Nagelsmann, but this appears to have irritated him, prompting him to issue an ultimatum to the press. “This is a time when I am in the midst of media attention,” he told a news conference in Frankfurt.
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“I was surprised, not negatively or positively, but by how fast the news spreads. And sometimes it’s difficult for people to not divulge any information because they think, ‘Let’s turn a blind eye to things.’ Sometimes it’s the right thing to not publicize what happened.
“I know that this is my number one job. My mission is to make the national team better, and I hope I have more options to choose from.”
“But it’s not something I do for you, it’s something I do for you. It’s an honour. I’m going to be compensated very graciously and if tomorrow I say ‘Jurgen Klopp sucks’ I’ll be gone.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp has given the media an ultimatum (Image: Markus Ulmer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
“But if the DFB (German Football Association) says, ‘Okay, don’t continue working,’ that’s it. And if you (the media) have a bad attitude and don’t let my family live in peace. I’ll leave, I’ll just turn my back.”
“I know there are other countries where national team head coaches are treated even worse. But as much as I love this job, I’m always ready to quit if necessary.”
“Jurgen Klopp does not have any ‘career’ after the national team. This is the absolute pinnacle of my football career as a manager. I will give my all.”
Klopp had a hugely successful nine years at Liverpool, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and two League Cups. He quit two years ago due to burnout, but is now recommitting to work in Germany.
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