German FA denies contact with Jurgen Klopp over national team job

Andreas Rettig, the managing director of the German FA (DFB), stated on Saturday that there has been no communication with Jurgen Klopp, the coach of Liverpool, regarding the possibility of him leading the national team.

In an interview with German magazine Focus, Rettig stated that the DFB is making efforts to honor Klopp's desire for a break once he concludes his time at Liverpool in the summer.

"There has been no communication. He has decided to take a break. It is not our place to advise him on how to make the most of his free time."

With Julian Nagelsmann's contract as the current coach of Germany extending until the conclusion of Euro 2024, which will be held in Germany, the DFB has been actively searching for a long-term replacement, with Klopp being their top choice.

"He wants a break, and that is why it is not a matter of concern," Rettig clarified.

Klopp surprised the football world in January when he announced his decision to step down as the manager of Liverpool at the end of the ongoing season, citing exhaustion.

He has been linked to various positions, including that of the German national team, but he has consistently stated that he intends to take at least a year off before returning to coaching.

The German team has faced difficulties in the lead-up to the Euros, resulting in the dismissal of Hansi Flick, the first coach in the federation's history to be fired.

Germany only managed to win three out of eleven matches in 2023, with just one victory in four matches under Nagelsmann.

Rettig expressed the DFB's support for Nagelsmann's team to perform well during the summer tournament and expressed hope that he would continue as coach after a successful campaign.

"One does not dismiss a successful coach."