After a brief 2024 renaissance, the soul-searching and recriminations have once again started in Germany, following their Euro 2024 quarter final exit… could Jurgen Klopp be the answer?
Germany impressed at Euro 2024, with the likes of Jamal Musiala, Toni Kroos and Florian Wirtz catching the eye. But after failing to make the last four for a fourth tournament in a row, despite incredibly talented squads, there will be further questions asked of Die Mannschaft.
Jurgen Klopp Germany manager odds: latest news
Firstly, Julian Nagelsmann is not expected to be under immediate pressure. As mentioned above, the 36-year-old’s side did impress on home soil, and were perhaps unfortunate to meet a side as brilliant as Spain as early as the quarter finals.
In the match itself, Germany could just have easily won it as Spain. The Germans generated the better chances according to expected goals, with a value of 2.15 to Spain’s 1.41, Kai Havertz came agonisingly close twice, and Nicklas Fullkrug hit the post at 2-1.
Nagelsmann’s side were exciting to watch, had a plan and were far more dynamic than the German sides we’ve seen for the last decade.
However, despite Nagelsmann’s contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup, it is not entirely certain that the coaching prodigy will still be in post by the time Die Mannschaft travel to North America.
Firstly, Nagelsmann is a highly in-demand coach, respected and admired around the globe – he could be tempted back into club football, as Bayern Munich tried in the spring.
Secondly, though there is not immediate pressure on Nagelsmann, there will be an expectation that he does well in the UEFA Nations League and World Cup qualification. If he does not, he may suffer the same fate as new Barcelona boss, Hansi Flick.
There is also the enduring allure of Jurgen Klopp to consider. The legendary manager is, theoretically, available again, after almost a decade on Merseyside.
Klopp’s Liverpool reign has been superb, winning the Champions League, Premier League, an FA Cup, two League Cups and the Club World Cup while competing with the far better resourced Manchester City goliath.
The 57-year-old stepped away from Liverpool this year on account of feeling burnt out. In his departure announcement, Klopp said he was “running out of energy” and that he “cannot do the job again and again and again and again”.
Klopp will understandably want a break from football. But the very best in the game almost always feel that itch to return. A great compromise for Klopp, to avoid feeling so run down, could be international football.
International football, despite its illustrious prizes, is a much simpler game than modern club football. Matches are only every few months, offering him plenty of downtime. There are no transfer sagas to deal with, and press scrutiny only really ramps up every two years for major tournaments.
Klopp is known for being an incredible motivator, and he would surely have his countrymen firing on all cylinders whenever they step over the white line.
Motivation and togetherness also play an outsized role in international football, as there isn’t the time to spend months on the training pitch rehearsing with players.
It remains to be seen how long Nagelsmann remains in post – but when he does depart, the DFB will almost certainly enquire after Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp Germany manager odds: the alternative candidates
Klopp might, however, feel he still has another top club left in him. Any of Europe’s elite would be delighted to have his charismatic presence.
The DFB will also have a list of other potential candidates to replace Nagelsmann, should things go awry.
Thomas Tuchel
Top of our list of alternatives (and likely many of Europe’s elite) is recently departed Bayern Munich manager, Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel is currently out of work, but did hold discussions with Manchester United earlier in the summer.
The 50-year-old has many similarities with Klopp. Both made their managerial names at Mainz with high-octane pressing football, before impressive spells with Borussia Dortmund put them on the map internationally. They also both won the Champions League with English clubs.
If Tuchel were to seek a break from club football, Germany could be the ideal destination, and he already knows key men such as Kai Havertz, Antonio Rudiger and Jamal Musiala very well.
He also has a CV to rival Klopp’s, with three league titles, a stunning Champions League win and a plethora of domestic cups.
Tuchel is a very different character to Klopp though. He is detail-obsessed, and often has more fractious relationships with other figures in hierarchies. The former could be a particular issue, with less time to impart his ideas on the training pitch.
Rudi Voller
A potential stop-gap for Germany could be former manager and current sporting director, Rudi Voller.
An immediate factor in Voller’s favour is his stature within the German game. He scored a stunning 47 goals for his nation, at a rate of more than one every other game. He would immediately command the respect of the squad.
He also knows the squad, and the talent pool inside out from his time as sporting director, though he does not have the same managerial pedigree as Klopp.
It is unlikely the 64-year-old would be a permanent appointment initially, but it could happen. The last time Voller was interim manager, he led Die Mannschaft to a surprise appearance in the 2002 World Cup final.
Sebastian Hoeneß
Our final alternative candidate is VfB Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß.
Hoeneß’ Stuttgart side were one of the biggest surprise packages in Europe this season, rising from 16th place to second, even finishing above Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, they were upstaged by the awesome Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten campaign.
The 42-year-old has made the best of his squad, a quality massively appreciated in international football.
He would represent a real coup for Die Mannschaft – a young manager who could build a dynasty.
Also, Hoeneß is the nephew of legendary Bayern and Germany striker, Uli Hoeneß.
