Klopp ‘signals willingness’ to take over as Germany coach Nagelsmann resigns after World Cup failure

Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany coach after his team failed to make the World Cup round of 16 for the third tournament running, and former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is in line to take over.

Nagelsmann’s departure, announced on Friday by the national soccer federation, comes four days after Paraguay stunned Germany on penalties in the round of 32 and follows talks with his bosses.

The federation said it planned to speak to Klopp and “he has already signaled his willingness in general to take on the role.”

It would be Klopp’s first coaching job since leaving Liverpool in 2024.

Nagelsmann initially said he’d stay on with Germany on a contract which had another two years to run and reportedly made him among the highest-paid coaches at the World Cup. He faced mounting criticism over his tactics and team selection at the tournament.

Germany’s defeat in the round of 32 followed group-stage losses at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when it was a 32-team tournament. It has not won a men’s World Cup knockout game since beating Argentina in the 2014 final.

Nagelsmann initially said he was “not one to walk away” after Germany’s elimination before he returned home for crisis talks with the federation on Thursday.

Germany’s next game is on Sept. 24 in the Nations League against the Netherlands.

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James Ellingworth, The Associated Press