Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made his return to management as the German national team played out a draw with the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League
Jurgen Klopp, Head Coach of Germany, celebrates after Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Germany (not pictured) makes a save during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Netherlands and Germany
Jurgen Klopp made his return to coaching in Germany's clash with the Netherlands(Image: (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))
It hasn't taken long, but it seems Jurgen Klopp is already working his magic with the German national team, with players taking his instructions on after just a few days of coaching.
The former Liverpool boss marked his return to the sidelines on Thursday, when his nation faced off against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League, with Xavi in the opposition dugout offering another return-to-management storyline alongside the main attraction of Klopp.
For the 59-year-old, it's a slight change of pace. Unlike the day-to-day management that comes with being at a club, the national team gives more space between meetings with players, as well as the option to pick a squad to the manager's liking. However, less time with those players also means fewer minutes on the training pitch with them, which can make it difficult to solidify a tactical identity that isn't already present in the nation's way of playing.
With Klopp, though, you know what you are getting. The ex-Liverpool boss is well-known for his pressing style of play, something that almost every top player is drilled in during their club career.
The instructions he has already laid out seem to be taking effect, with one moment on the sideline showing the Germany head coach starting a full team press with a signal to his players.
A simple push of the arm got every player moving, with the backline stepping up, condensing the pitch for the Netherlands, while the frontline pushed the opposition into an uncomfortable situation with the ball.
Jurgen Klopp, Head Coach of Germany, reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Netherlands and Germany
Jurgen Klopp's tactics are already taking root with the Germany players(Image: (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))
Ultimately, it showed the dedication and respect that the Germany players already have for Klopp, and it is a promising early sign for the manager that his ideas have already taken root, even if there is some fine-tuning to do along the way.
The match almost ended in perfect fashion for Klopp too, after Felix Nmecha's goal saw his side lead for almost an hour in the match, heading into added time.
Then came a late blow, as a spectacular finish from Cody Gakpo in the 92nd minute ensured that the Netherlands took at least a point from a competitive first outing for both new managers in the Nations League.
The challenge for Klopp now will be to take some of his initial learnings into another huge run of matches. With an extended international break, combining the September and October break into one, there are still three more clashes to come, with two encounters with Greece coming either side of a match with Serbia.
Having some tactical continuity will be a challenge, with the final two games set to be played by a whole new squad of players, after the manager named two separate groups for the four games.
It remains to be seen whether the next group will be able to implement a team press by a signal from the bench in the same way, but it would certainly be a show of Klopp's coaching ability if they can do so this early in his tenure.