… Klopp emerges as leading contender to replace former Bayern Munich boss
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly resigned following the country’s surprise exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing an abrupt end to his tenure less than two years before the expiry of his contract.
According to Bild and Sky Germany, Nagelsmann has agreed to step down after the German Football Federation (DFB) requested his resignation in the aftermath of Germany’s disappointing Round of 32 elimination by Paraguay.
The 38-year-old, who was contracted to remain in charge until the 2028 UEFA European Championship, is yet to make an official statement, while the DFB has not publicly confirmed the reports.
Nagelsmann’s departure follows Germany’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Paraguay in Boston, where the four-time world champions were knocked out on penalties after extra time in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
The defeat extended Germany’s recent struggles at major international competitions. After lifting the World Cup in 2014, the European giants suffered consecutive group-stage eliminations at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar before their latest knockout-stage disappointment in North America.
If confirmed, Nagelsmann would become only the second Germany national team coach to lose his job, following Hansi Flick, who was dismissed in 2023 after another disappointing run of results.
Attention has already turned to Nagelsmann’s potential successor, with former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp widely reported to be the German Football Federation’s preferred choice.
Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager in 2024 after a trophy-laden spell that included Premier League and UEFA Champions League triumphs. He currently serves as Red Bull’s Global Head of Football, although reports suggest his contract contains a release clause that could allow him to take charge of the national team.
The prospect of Klopp leading Germany into a new era is expected to dominate discussion in the coming days as the DFB seeks to rebuild confidence ahead of the country’s preparations for Euro 2028.
Neither the German Football Federation nor Klopp has commented publicly on the reports.
