Jurgen Klopp has ended fans hopes of ever returning to Liverpool as a manager after confirming his retirement plans while being unveiled as Germany's new head coach
11:29, 24 Jul 2026
Jurgen Klopp (Head coach of the german national team) looks on
Jurgen Klopp revealed his last role in management will be as Germany head coach(Image: Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed his retirement plans after being unveiled as Germany manager, bringing an end to speculation over a potential return to Liverpool in the future.
Klopp has signed a contract to manage Germany until the 2030 World Cup, with the German Football Association confirming the appointment during his unveiling at a press conference on Friday.
The former Liverpool boss has been away from frontline management since departing Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season, when he revealed fatigue was the main reason behind his decision to step away following a hugely successful nine-year spell that delivered Premier League and Champions League glory. Klopp later took up a role as Red Bull’s head of global soccer in October 2024, working behind the scenes across the organisation’s multi-club network before making his return to the dugout with Germany.
Klopp has revealed that taking charge of Germany represents the ultimate achievement of his coaching career, insisting the national team role will be his final chapter in management.
"I love this job, but I’m always ready to call it quits if needed" said Klopp. "All I’m there for is the issue. Jurgen Klopp is not going to have any career after the German national team. This is the pinnacle, the absolute high point of my career as a coach. I’ll give everything I’ve got, and I’ll have the best possible assistant coaching team."
Many Liverpool supporters had hoped Klopp would make a sensational return to Anfield after Arne Slot was dismissed following a dismal title defense, with the German remaining a hugely popular figure among the club’s fanbase.
Despite stepping away from management in May 2024, Klopp’s legacy at Liverpool remains a major part of the conversation surrounding his next move. The German’s nine-year spell at Anfield delivered Premier League and European glory, while transforming the club’s identity both on and off the pitch.
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp is seen prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool FC at London Stadium on April 27, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has all but confirmed he won't return to Liverpool as a manager(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Now, as Klopp begins his new role with Germany, his ability to repeat that success on the international stage will be closely scrutinized, with his Liverpool achievements setting the benchmark for his latest challenge.
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Klopp cautioned that his arrival alone would not guarantee immediate success, insisting expectations must remain realistic as he begins the task of rebuilding Germany. "Jurgen Klopp being in the job doesn't automatically mean we're going to be world champions," he said.
"Success is performance vs expectations. We need a new set of expectations. Many people have asked themselves, are we as good as France? If the answer is no, then that is not necessarily true. If the question is, do we have players like Dembele, Barcola, Mbappe? Then the answer is no, we don't, but we can still beat them.
"We don't want to play like Argentina, Spain, England or France. We want to play like Germany, do it the German way but very intense. Are we the number one team at the moment? No, we aren't; I accept that. Would we be happy to be the number two team? Then people would say we aren't number one. At the moment, we have 11 teams ahead of us. Yes, we can beat them, but for this to happen, you need to play very good, intense football."