Jurgen Klopp has gone on record with some fighting words after he was appointed as the German national team manager.
Image Credits: Imago Images
Jurgen Klopp has gone on record with some fighting words after he was appointed as the German national team manager.
The DFB confirmed his appointment on Friday, with the 59-year-old set for a contract until the 2030 World Cup.
UK ONLY
His first major tournament will be Euro 2026. His agreement with Red Bull did not include a written release clause, so Klopp required permission to leave the company.
The 58-year-old will make a complete break from Red Bull following his exit. The company had initially planned for him to remain involved as an ambassador or sporting adviser, but those arrangements will no longer go ahead.
Now speaking at his unveiling press conference, the former Liverpool boss said that he is aware of how past managers have been treated, and that he “is gone” if attacks are launched against family:
“I’m not doing this job for myself. I’m doing it for you. I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated Julian Nagelsmann,” he said.
“I’m taking it even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated Thomas Tuchel. If you go after my family, I’m gone. If you think I’m rubbish, tell me to my face and I’ll leave immediately, without asking for any compensation.”
He added:
“I don’t even know my everyday life yet, I’m almost glad that it doesn’t start tomorrow. I live in Wiesbaden and will certainly be in Frankfurt often.
“I’ll watch games in every country our players are in. I think it’s more important that the contact with the players is greater than just watching them. I’ll try to get in touch with the players quickly.”
Klopp also explained his vision, and that he wants teams to look at the German national team as the gold standard as is the case with Spain and France:
“We want to leave no stone unturned. My main task is to help the senior national team and that only works if there is good work in the substructure. You get the feeling that we should do it in one area like the Spaniards or in another like the French, but we want the other nations to say in the future that we want to do it like the DFB.”
🚨💣 Jürgen Klopp addressing the German public during his introductory press conference as the new Bundestrainer:
“I’m not doing this job for myself. I’m doing it for you. I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated Julian Nagelsmann. I’m taking it even though… pic.twitter.com/ObZzazfUS6
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 24, 2026
Jurgen Klopp