Jurgen Klopp has just taken over as Germany head coach, and on his very first day in the job he threatened to quit. The former Liverpool manager, appointed on a four-year contract to replace Julian Nagelsmann, held a press conference in which he warned journalists that if they invade his family's privacy or treat him badly, he will walk away without compensation. “If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace then I’ll be gone, I’ll just turn away,” he said. His first game in charge will be against the Netherlands on 24 September.
Klopp, 59, returns to frontline coaching after leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024 following a nine-season spell that brought the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and two League Cups. He had said he was “running out of energy” and took a break, later becoming head of global soccer for Red Bull in January 2025. But the Germany job – his first role in international football – has lured him back. He described it as “the absolutely high point of my footballing career as coach” and suggested it will be his final job in top-level football.
“Jurgen Klopp becomes Germany head coach and threatens to quit if media invades his family's privacy.”
Why did Germany want him? The national team is in rebuild mode. Germany lost to Paraguay in the last 32 of the World Cup – their worst performance in decades – and have not made the last 16 since winning the tournament in 2014. Nagelsmann resigned after that shock defeat, and the German public has grown disillusioned with the team. Klopp said he wants to “change a country” through football, just as he believes his Liverpool sides changed the city. He also expressed regret for poking fun at Nagelsmann while working as a pundit during the World Cup.
For UK readers, Klopp’s appointment matters because he remains one of the most popular and recognisable football figures in Britain. His tenure at Liverpool was transformative, and his return to management will be closely watched – especially his relationship with the media. Klopp has often clashed with journalists, and his ultimatum sets a clear boundary from the start. His warning also references how former Germany boss Nagelsmann and England boss Thomas Tuchel were treated by the press after their World Cup exits.
Q: Why did Jurgen Klopp leave Liverpool? Klopp left Liverpool in the summer of 2024 after nine seasons, saying he had “run out of energy”. He then worked as head of global soccer for Red Bull before taking the Germany job.
Q: How long is Klopp's contract with Germany? Klopp signed a four-year deal that runs until after the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Q: What did Klopp say about the media? Klopp warned that if the media invades his family's privacy or treats him badly, he will quit immediately without severance pay. He said he has seen how Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel were treated and that he is “always ready to call it quits if need be”.
What happens next? Klopp’s first match is against the Netherlands on 24 September in a Nations League group stage game. He will work alongside former Liverpool assistants Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz. The German FA will hope his arrival re-energises the team and repairs the fractured relationship between the national side and its fans. But if the media crosses his red line, he may not last long.