Jurgen Klopp has officially begun work on his first day as Germany’s new head coach, bringing the transition phase after his appointment to a close. The former Liverpool manager went to the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt to lay out both his immediate priorities and his longer-term vision for the national side.

A new chapter starts in Frankfurt

After succeeding Julian Nagelsmann in late July, Klopp is now fully engaged in the practical demands of managing his country. The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss also offered a look at his new surroundings on social media, sharing pictures of the Frankfurt skyline and the association’s training grounds.

Klopp’s familiar sense of humour is still very much there despite the scale of his new task. Speaking about settling into his high-profile position in his first official interview with the DFB, the coach said with a smile: "I’ve already signed off WhatsApp messages to friends with: ‘Bundestrainer Klopp.’ Nobody would call themselves that, it sounds very awkward. But with my mates, it felt appropriate."

No need to begin from zero

Although Germany’s early elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup led to major disappointment across the country, Klopp has no intention of dismantling what is already in place and beginning all over again. The 59-year-old stressed that he sees enough quality in the current structure and wants to develop it rather than carry out a complete rebuild of the squad. Explaining his position, Klopp said: "You might think that when a World Cup hasn’t gone well, you need to start with a blank slate. But that’s completely unnecessary," he stated.

Klopp’s first priority has been to build connections across German football rather than immediately getting in touch with the players, many of whom are still coming back from summer commitments. He described his measured approach to the opening days in the role: "It’s now step by step. It’s really got off to a great start. All the employees we’ve met so far have welcomed us incredibly warmly. Thank you for that! It doesn’t feel unfamiliar - that’s really lovely."

Building links with the players

Understanding the human side of his squad sits high on Klopp’s list of priorities. He said he has “two major areas of responsibility,” and then explained them further: "Number one is the senior national team. Number two is everything else." Part of that work will include visiting Bundesliga clubs and meeting coaches in domestic football to make sure there is a joined-up pathway for the country’s best talent. Klopp wants to go beyond numbers and scouting reports so he can understand on a personal level what motivates the players who could represent Germany before taking them into competition.

Klopp set out his plan for the next few weeks, saying: "I’m trying to visit a few clubs and players before things get underway. But that won’t be possible with everyone. And you have to give yourself time. I know the players, but not always the people behind the players. It’s important for me to learn what drives each guy, where he comes from, where he wants to go."

Long-term plan and first match dates

Klopp is not pretending the change will happen overnight, but he has made it clear he is fully committed to the project over the long run. He sees the job as a journey over several years rather than a short-term answer to the DFB’s recent problems in major tournaments. Speaking about how he views the length of his spell in charge, Klopp underlined his long-term thinking, saying: "Fortunately, this isn’t a short‑term experiment; it’s designed to last a few years. And now we can get started."

Klopp is expected to announce his first squad between Matchdays 3 and 4 of the new Bundesliga season, before a training camp begins in Herzogenaurach on 20 September. His first significant test will come away from home on 24 September, when Germany travel to Amsterdam to play the Netherlands. That will be followed by his first home match on 27 September, with Klopp set to lead the side at Augsburg’s WWK Arena against Greece.