Jurgen Klopp vacated his position as Red Bull's head of global soccer to become Germany's new manager, taking over Julian Nagelsmann, with his successor now decided
Jurgen Klopp is the new Germany boss
Jurgen Klopp is the new Germany boss(Image: Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Roger Schmidt will succeed Jurgen Klopp as Red Bull's head of global soccer, with the German arriving to replace the Liverpool legend, who departed to join the national team.
After Julian Nagelsmann was let go following a meek World Cup campaign, Klopp was quickly installed as the leading contender to take over. After a couple of weeks of talks, the deal, which included him leaving Red Bull, was concluded.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Schmidt, 59, is set to take Klopp's old job. He was tasked with growing all the clubs in the Red Bull stable and helping further develop their talent identification and competitiveness.
Schmidt was most recently in management with Benfica. He was previously with the likes of Red Bull Salzburg and Bayer Leverkusen and was briefly linked, in some quarters, with the Liverpool vacancy when Klopp departed in 2024.
Speaking to the media when he was appointed, Klopp warned he would not hesitate to walk away from the job if media and public scrutiny affected his family.
"The day you don't want me anymore, I'm gone — without any severance pay," Klopp explained. “If you behave badly and don't leave my family in peace, I'm gone. Criticize me if something doesn’t work. I’m happy to work on it. It’s all about the job.
Jurgen Klopp during his introductory press conference as the new manager of Germany
Jurgen Klopp during his introductory press conference as the new manager of Germany(Image: Markus Ulmer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
"I know there are other countries where national team coaches are treated even worse. I love this job, but I am always ready to call it quits if need be."
Peter Crouch says Klopp had long been eyeing the position. While he outlined that he was almost doing his country a favor, there is no doubt that he is excited by the prospect too.
"I do think he always secretly wanted this job [after leaving Liverpool]," Crouch told Paddy Power.
Content Image
Content Image
"It's one of those jobs where you can get some time off but you're still involved in everything that's going football-wise.
"I imagine he's got a little bit of a bug and desire for the Germany job. I interviewed him a few weeks ago and he said he didn't want to get back in just yet, but the international job is a pretty special one and slightly different to your average managerial role.
"Germany has very good players, but they didn't feel like they were a team at all (at the World Cup). They were very fractious.
"They had good moments but it was poor them going out the way they did. Klopp is a game-changer for them. I'd have absolutely loved to have played for him."