Jurgen Klopp is about to make his return to the sideline official. It’s basically a done deal that he’ll replace Julian Nagelsmann as the head coach of the German national team. The man himself confirmed as much in an interview with German TV station Magenta.
“Julian has stepped down and the federation is working on the succession and has approached me in the course of those considerations,” Klopp said. “About two years ago I stopped at Liverpool and said I lacked the energy for another job or for another year with Liverpool. Since then I’m more than recharged, I’m ready.”
He also made clear he thinks German soccer needs real change. “German football is obviously at a turning point now. Now we need to change things fundamentally. Whether that’s me in the end or whoever it may be, that doesn’t change the fact that changes are necessary.”
There’s reportedly a clause in Klopp’s deal with Red Bull that lets him take the Germany job if it comes up. So what does his first lineup actually look like? We took a stab at predicting it.
In goal: Marc-André ter Stegen
This isn’t a long-term fix. Ter Stegen will be 38 by the next World Cup and his best years are probably behind him. But let’s be real. Germany’s goalkeeping pipeline is basically empty right now. That’s why they talked a 40-year-old Manuel Neuer into coming out of retirement for one last run in 2026. Ter Stegen has taken a beating in terms of reputation between injuries and bad form, but it wasn’t that long ago that he was considered one of the best keepers in Europe. He was crucial to Barcelona’s 2022-23 La Liga title with a rock-solid defense. A fresh start at Ajax could help him rediscover that form and hold the job until someone younger emerges.
Defense: Schlotterbeck, Tah, and a right-back problem
Right-back has been a mess for Germany. Joshua Kimmich was played out of position there during the World Cup and it showed. He hasn’t played there regularly for Bayern in years. Nagelsmann didn’t have great options either. The guy to watch might be 20-year-old youth international Baum, who barely played for Eintracht Frankfurt last season but has real buzz around him. A move might be coming.
Antonio Rudiger is probably getting phased out. He’s never been as good for Germany as he has for Real Madrid and Chelsea. Jonathan Tah, now at Bayern, will be the leader of the backline at age 30. He’s got a few solid years left.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s ankle injury was a turning point in Germany’s World Cup. He’s calm with the ball, aggressive without it — exactly the kind of defender Klopp has always liked. He’s been linked with Liverpool and Real Madrid and looks like a key piece for Klopp right away.
Midfield: Brown, Pavlovic, and Kimmich back where he belongs
There weren’t many positives from Germany’s World Cup, but breakout star Brown was one of them. He just signed for Bayern Munich, and if he makes that step up — which it looks like he will — he’s got the spot locked down for years.
Aleksandar Pavlovic, 22, was excellent for Bayern last season. He’s only getting better, even if he didn’t shine under Nagelsmann’s weird system. Klopp is going to love this kid. And then there’s Kimmich. Bayern manager Vincent Kompany used a midfield two of Pavlovic and Kimmich in the Champions League and it worked brilliantly — they beat Real Madrid and went toe-to-toe with PSG. Nagelsmann moved Kimmich to right-back and it didn’t really work. Klopp probably won’t overthink it. Kimmich will be 35 by the next World Cup, and in a Klopp midfield that demands athleticism, that might be a stretch. But for now, he’s still world-class and desperate to fix Germany’s run of underperformance before he’s done.
Attack: Adeyemi, Wirtz, and a false nine
Germany has a ton of technically gifted attacking players — Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala are the headliners. But neither of them is a Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mané type. Karim Adeyemi isn’t that either, but he’s closer in profile. He had a rough, injury-filled 2025-26 season and didn’t even make the World Cup squad despite being in the sticker album. Ouch. But there’s a real player there. Remember the 2024 Champions League final, when he terrorized Real Madrid with his pace and direct running? A good manager might refine his game. And honestly, he couldn’t have done worse than Leroy Sané at the World Cup. The 30-year-old Galatasaray winger’s international days are probably over.
Musiala’s stock has dropped since he broke his leg and dislocated his ankle at the Club World Cup a year ago. Klopp, working as a pundit, suggested Nagelsmann should drop him — then clarified that wasn’t criticism. “That was zero point zero meant as criticism,” Klopp said. “Certainly not Musiala, whom everyone loves, ourselves included. We want the boy to get the feeling for himself again very quickly, that he trusts himself.” It sounds like Klopp believes Musiala will get back to his best. Wirtz has spent the last year waiting to show what he can do. With a new club and country manager, there are no more excuses.
So who plays the false nine — Germany’s version of Bobby Firmino? Nick Woltemade is a candidate, but he’s at Newcastle and doesn’t seem interested in playing as a proper 9 despite his size. For now, Kai Havertz fits best. Both Mikel Arteta and Nagelsmann have preferred him over traditional strikers because he’s good at bringing others into play. He’ll be the guy for now.
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