​Germany’s football federation is preparing for high-stakes talks as Bernd Neuendorf, the president of the German Football Association (DFB), along with his deputy Hans-Joachim Watzke, flew to New York on Friday to begin initial discussions with Jürgen Klopp about taking over the national team coaching role. Klopp, who previously managed Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Julian Nagelsmann, who stepped down in the wake of Germany’s exit from the World Cup in the round of 32 against Paraguay. The two DFB leaders are expected to meet Klopp once they reach the city, with negotiations anticipated to commence later on Friday after Neuendorf and Watzke landed in New York. Klopp is currently in the United States for the World Cup as a pundit for MagentaTV.
Klopp has repeatedly indicated his openness to the position, but any appointment would require a formal negotiation and Klopp’s release from his contract with Red Bull, where he serves as Head of Global Soccer through 2029. Red Bull’s involvement looms large, with reports that the DFB plans to sit down in New York with Oliver Mintzlaff, the managing director of Red Bull, to discuss the potential arrangement. All parties are said to be eager to reach a workable solution that would allow Germany to move forward with a new national team coach.
Germany’s next fixtures include four Nations League group games scheduled for late September and early October, with matches against the Netherlands, Serbia, and two against Greece. In the background of these talks, former DFB president Theo Zwanziger has stressed the importance of a strict separation between the DFB and Red Bull if Klopp is appointed. There is ongoing speculation that Klopp could continue to serve as a Red Bull brand ambassador even after assuming the national team coaching role. In such a scenario, the DFB would avoid an upfront takeover fee, but Klopp’s salary and sponsorship arrangements would need careful handling to maintain clarity and compliance.
Zwanziger, who presided over the DFB from 2006 to 2012, warned in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that any potential overlap could create divided loyalties for Klopp. He acknowledged Red Bull’s significant financial investment in sport, yet argued that Red Bull’s broader influence in sport should not compromise the national team’s objectives. Zwanziger emphasized that the coach occupies a pivotal position in German football—second only to the president in significance—and highlighted the historical precedent of national team coaches always receiving compensation funded by DFB sponsors. He urged that there must be harmony between the sponsors of the DFB and those supporting the national team coach to ensure a conflict-free environment and optimal performance on the international stage. As Germany looks to the upcoming Nations League campaigns, the outcome of these discussions will be closely watched by fans, players, and sponsors alike, all hoping for a seamless transition and renewed success under a new era of leadership.