Klopp fires warning after signing as Germany coach until 2030
· Yahoo Sports
Jürgen Klopp has signed a deal until 2030 to become Germany coach and told a news conference on Friday he was "delighted" - but warned the press he would quit if they "misbehave."
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The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss was the DFB's immediate first choice to succeed Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned following the World Cup last-32 exit to Paraguay in June.
Klopp has been global head of soccer at the sports arm of drinks maker Red Bull but will now lead Germany into the Nations League, qualifying for Euro 2028 in the British Isles and qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup. His contract will begin on August 15.
"It is a big honour to sit here," Klopp said in Frankfurt. "I had an idea how big the job is but when you are involved, you feel the responsibility even more. It is a very special day for me."
His first match in charge will be against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24 in Germany's opening Nations League fixture.
"It is not just about the first team. But of course it is the immediate priority that we play better football with the lads we have," he said.
Amid talk that Germany no longer have a top world-class player, he said: "As a coaching team we want to produce a package. We have a few weeks before the first match. It is enough time for me to prepare. We are all ready."
Klopp is well-known for his charisma but his press conference was not as joyful or comedic as some fans might have expected.
"On the day you don't want me anymore, tell me and I'm gone," he said before appearing to warn the gathered media, "If you misbehave and don't leave my family alone, I'm gone."
Three Germany games in Leipzig as compensation
The 59-year-old won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund in 2011 and 2012 before lifting the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019 and the Premier League a year afterwards.
He left Liverpool in May 2024 to have a break from coaching, but said during talks with the DFB that his batteries were now "recharged."
Discussions focused on his various advertising deals and whether they would fit in with the DFB. Solutions were eventually found after weeks of talks, which were slightly hindered by Klopp being in the US for the World Cup as a MagentaTV pundit.
He said Red Bull had agreed a "generous" deal to let him leave a job where he had oversight over Red Bull's teams across the world, including RB Leizpig and New York Red Bulls.
The DFB will pay €1 million ($1.1 million) to Red Bull's foundation as compensation and RB Leipzig will hold three Germany games until 2030.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf, who said talks had gone through some "complex issues", added: "He was from the very start our preferred candidate."
Neuendorf also said he was "very thankful" to Red Bull for the "relatively quick" agreement.
Klopp is the 13th head coach of the Germany men's team. Germany have not won a knock-out game at a men's World Cup since winning the title in 2014.
Just before his press conference, a meeting of the DFB's supervisory board and wider stakeholders voted in a digital meeting to appoint Klopp.
His long-serving assistants Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders and his former Dortmund player Sven Bender were also approved by the DFB as assistant coaches.
Germany's 2014 World Cup winner Per Mertesacker, who spent eight years running Arsenal's youth academy, is also becoming the DFB's managing director for sport from January.
Juergen Klopp speaks during a press conference to introduce the new national team head coach. Florian Wiegand/dpaJuergen Klopp sits on the podium during a press conference to introduce the new national team head coach. Florian Wiegand/dpa