Former DFB chief: Klopp ‘was lined up’ to be Germany coach in 2022 | OneFootball

Former DFB chief: Klopp ‘was lined up’ to be Germany coach in 2022 | OneFootball

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·3 July 2026

Former DFB chief: Klopp ‘was lined up’ to be Germany coach in 2022

Article image:Former DFB chief: Klopp ‘was lined up’ to be Germany coach in 2022

Jürgen Klopp could already have taken the Germany job in 2022, with former DFB president Reinhard Grindel revealing a plan in 2019 for the then Liverpool manager to succeed Joachim Löw after the World Cup.

“Klopp was aware of this because DFB representatives explained it to him in Liverpool in spring 2019,” Grindel told Münchner Merkur.


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After Grindel left the DFB in April 2019, the plan was not followed through.

“Due to my resignation, these considerations were apparently not pursued further,” Grindel said. Joachim Löw stepped down a year earlier than envisaged and Hansi Flick took charge in 2021.

Klopp, 58, has long been linked with the national job and is now seen as the leading candidate to replace Julian Nagelsmann, should he be sacked after Germany’s disappointing World Cup exit.

Years on, Klopp could yet take the role if Nagelsmann is dismissed, while the current Red Bull Head of Global Soccer is said to be the top candidate to succeed the 38-year-old.

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