Germany seek Klopp talks after Nagelsmann resigns
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- Julian Nagelsmann requested to be relieved of his duties on Thursday, and the DFB immediately terminated his contract — making him the second Germany coach to leave after a disappointing tournament in this cycle.
- The DFB said it will seek talks with Jurgen Klopp, who has already "signaled his general willingness" to take the position.
- Germany fell to Paraguay on penalties in the last 32 on Monday, stretching their World Cup knockout win drought to over a decade — the last was the 2014 title — and failing to escape the group in 2018 and 2022.
- Nagelsmann, 38, was appointed in 2023 on a deal initially running to after Euro 2024, which was later extended to this World Cup and then through Euro 2028.
- After the loss, Nagelsmann insisted "I'm not someone who runs away," but reversed within days, saying he had "consulted with trusted individuals" and the team deserved "a fresh start."
- DFB sporting director Rudi Völler praised the choice, saying Nagelsmann was "taking responsibility" by placing "the national team as a whole above himself."
Why it matters: Germany's four-time champions have cycled coaches through three consecutive major-tournament failures, and the DFB is turning to a figure whose availability would be the highest-profile appointment in the role in years. With Euro 2028 qualifying on the horizon and no World Cup knockout win since 2014, whoever takes charge inherits a team with a decade of diminishing returns on the biggest stage.
