Germany’s World Cup is over, and it ended the way nobody in the country wanted: on penalties, in the round of 32, against Paraguay. The result on June 29-30 marked the third consecutive major tournament where Germany exited earlier than expected.

The target of that frustration is not just the current setup under Julian Nagelsmann. It’s the absence of the one man many believe could fix everything: Jürgen Klopp.

The man who won’t pick up the phone

Klopp, who left Liverpool at the end of 2024 after a legendary tenure at Anfield, has been comfortably settled into his role at Red Bull since January 1, 2025. He joined on a four-year contract as a high-ranking official within the organization.

So when the inevitable questions came flooding in after Germany’s elimination, Klopp did what Klopp does. He was honest, warm, and completely noncommittal.

“I haven’t thought about that yet… it’s not the time to talk about that.”

That quote, delivered on MagentaTV on June 30, was about as clear a deflection as you’ll get. His contract at Red Bull reportedly includes an exit clause specifically for the Germany national team role.

Three tournaments, three failures

The 2018 World Cup brought a group-stage exit. The 2022 edition delivered another group-stage exit. Euro 2024, played on home soil, offered a glimmer of hope before ending in the quarterfinals. And now, a round-of-32 penalty loss to Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup.

Nagelsmann now finds himself in the most uncomfortable position in German football. The German Football Federation (DFB) has publicly backed him, but fan sentiment tells a different story. Social media, talk shows, and newspaper columns have all converged on the same conclusion: Klopp is the answer.

Why Klopp feels like the obvious choice

At Borussia Dortmund, Klopp took a financially modest club to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final. At Liverpool, he delivered the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Club World Cup.

Prominent voices in German media have already started positioning him as the potential savior of German football.

What stands between speculation and reality

Klopp signed a four-year deal with Red Bull less than 18 months ago. Walking away from that commitment, even with an exit clause, would require a significant shift in his personal calculus. He left Liverpool specifically because the intensity of elite coaching was draining him.

The DFB has shown loyalty to Nagelsmann despite scrutiny following the Paraguay loss. If the federation decides to stick with their current manager, the Klopp conversation becomes theoretical for at least another two years.

Klopp was hired to be the connective tissue across Red Bull’s football operations, overseeing everything from recruitment philosophy to playing style. The exit clause in his contract suggests all parties understood the possibility of a national team approach when they signed the deal.