Jurgen Klopp has been given the task of putting the German national team back on the road to success. After three disappointing World Cups in a row, Germany have lost their reputation as a ‘tournament team’. Having failed to make it out of their group in 2018 and 2022, their most recent campaign at the ended in .
"Whoever gives it their all will have a lot of fun with me going forward; that was the case in the past and will continue to be in the future," said the 59-year-old as he was unveiled as the new Germany coach in Frankfurt. “I’d love to work with players who want to play football that everyone can enjoy. Success doesn’t always come quickly – we know that. I want people to go home thinking ‘Wow, that was cool!’”
Klopp was full of energy and enthusiasm – the new Germany coach wants to get stuck in right away. More physicality, a high tempo, a clear footballing philosophy, and a big emphasis on gegenpressing – all qualities embodied by the new coach: "Counter-pressing will be a factor, as will good organisation, a consistent formation and a clear game-plan."
Klopp is the kind of coach who can win over players with his magnetic aura, dynamic presence and genuine warmth, while also improving footballers with his footballing philosophy. In short, he’s a leader of men.
FIFA take a look at the important areas that will require Klopp's attention.
“We need to make some fundamental changes now”, said Klopp shortly after from World Cup 2026 in his role as a TV pundit.
During his unveiling, he elaborated on his ideas, but also urged caution. "We need to have realistic expectations. Do we have players like France? No! But we can still beat them. We need to play football in a certain way. I would love it if we all started watching Germany’s international matches again, not just at the big tournaments. We need to be patient, but I would also love to see some progress.”
There are many areas that require work: A clear style of play and more speed and creativity in the build-up are absolutely essential. There are also question marks about who will succeed Manuel Neuer in goal following his retirement. Right-back and centre forward remain problem positions.
The new coach’s tenure will begin with plenty of discussions and analysis ahead of his first game in charge against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League on 24 September. "I will watch lots of games in all the countries where our players play", said Klopp. "The players who make the team will be those who show quality and are up for the fight."
Klopp’s strengths include communication and man-management, and he has the ability to make every player feel valued. This could help to restore calm around the national team away from the pitch. What’s more, the style of play under the Stuttgart native is also sure to evoke memories of his successful spells in charge of Dortmund and Liverpool.
During Klopp’s time in England, the term ‘to gegenpress’ became part of the everyday football lexicon there, as he implemented his counter-pressing style, characterised by aggressive pressing high up the pitch and immediately seeking to regain possession after losing the ball. This style of play should now give a boost to Germany.
"I want the lads to show what a huge honour it is to play for Germany,” he said. “I won’t be able to please everyone. We should at least play in such a way that we could become world champions.”
‘Klopp-ball’ is characterised, among other things, by vertical transitions, high intensity and a conscious decision to avoid passing the ball without a purpose. For Klopp, it’s less about keeping the ball for as long as possible and more about using it as dangerously as possible. In his words: “Gegenpressing is the best playmaker.” Winning the ball should immediately lead to a scoring opportunity.
One of Klopp’s most striking characteristics is the trust he places in young players. Even during his time in Mainz and Dortmund, he nurtured young talents early on and gave them responsibility when they were suited to his style – regardless of their age or status. Players such as Mario Gotze and Marcel Schmelzer at Borussia Dortmund and later on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones at Liverpool belong to a large group of youngsters who benefited from Klopp’s trust.
“We need to strike the balance between development and performance,” said Klopp. “It won’t be a scatter-gun casting process like a talent show. We’re not going to rush 11 players through. We will give lots of players the chance to show what they can do.”
There is a generation of young players who fit Klopp’s profile perfectly, embodying work-rate and dynamism in their play: Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Lennart Karl, Tom Bischof and Brajan Gruda. They can bring technique, tempo and adaptability.
Musiala and Wirtz in particular will know what an opportunity Klopp’s style of play offers. Karl, who had to shortly before the start of the World Cup, has the chance to cement his place in the starting line-up under Klopp before 2030 and pull the strings alongside Musiala and Wirtz. The chance to help these players develop should be an exciting prospect for the new German coach.
It will also be fascinating to see how Klopp deals with the group of players around captain Joshua Kimmich. Will the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Leon Goretzka, Pascal Gross and Leroy Sane still form the core of the side under the new setup, or will there be a complete overhaul?
Apart from that, the former Liverpool coach has a deep pool of experienced players between 25 and 31 years of age, all of whom will still be in contention for the next two major tournaments. Alongside Kimmich, Jonathan Tah should also be a defensive option if his performances remain consistent; the same applies for Nico Schlotterbeck. But Klopp has often had his own ideas in his previous roles when it comes to the centre of defence.
In attack, Deniz Undav has been a consistent performer recently and has played his way into the hearts of the German fans. Kai Havertz is reliable at club level, but often performs inconsistently in a Germany shirt. Both players should nonetheless continue to play an important role in the team. Germany have been searching for a new out-and-out goalscorer since Miroslav Klose retired. Nick Woltemade, whose goals played a big part in Germany’s qualification for World Cup 2026, could be that striker.
The new coach could look to promising young players to revitalise his attack, with the likes of Cologne’s Said El Mala knocking on the door. Maximilian Beier (Dortmund), Nelson Weiper (Mainz) and Max Moerstedt (Hoffenheim) could also provide some interesting options for Klopp thanks to their team-oriented playing style.
Klopp has a huge challenge ahead of him and should be able to draw on his emotional intensity to galvanize the players – and particularly the fans.
“I have seen three times how a successful football team can transform a city.” He will be hoping to have a similar effect on Germany and its national team as he did on Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool.
Sources: FIFA Official
