JAKARTA - Jurgen Klopp immediately gave a stern warning to the media after officially starting his duties as head coach of the German national team (Timnas). The former Liverpool coach threatened to resign if his family's privacy was disturbed.
Klopp was appointed as Germany's coach with a four-year contract on Friday. He replaced Julian Nagelsmann who resigned this month after Germany surprisingly eliminated from the World Cup by losing to Paraguay in the last 32.
In his first press conference as German coach, Klopp also immediately asked that the media should respect the private life of his family.
"If you behave badly and don't let my family live peacefully, I will leave. I will resign," said Klopp, quoted by the BBC.
Klopp admitted that he knew that the national team coach in a number of countries received even worse treatment from the media. However, he stressed that he did not take the job for personal gain.
"I do this job for you. I took this job even though I've seen how you treated Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel. I love this job, but I'm always ready to quit if it's necessary," he said.
Nagelsmann and England national team coach Thomas Tuchel were previously in the media spotlight after a failure at the 2026 World Cup. Tuchel, for example, was criticized for his defensive strategy and substitutions when England failed to maintain a 1-0 lead against Argentina in the semi-finals.
Klopp's appointment as Germany coach was actually expected in recent weeks. His contract will see the 59-year-old take charge of Die Mannschaft until the 2030 World Cup, which is co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Klopp also stressed that the position as German coach was the peak of his career in coaching.
"Jurgen Klopp will not have a career after the national team. This is the peak, the highest point in my career as a football coach. I will give everything I have," he said.
Klopp returned to coaching after last managing Liverpool. He ended his nine-year tenure with the Merseyside club in the summer of 2024 because he felt he had run out of energy.
The Stuttgart-born coach feels that the time is right to return to coaching and experience his first experience at the national team level.
"For years I always thought that the job as head coach of Germany was something very big. But now I'm really starting to realize what it means to be the head coach of the national team," he added.
Klopp's first match with the German national team will take place on September 24. He will lead Die Mannschaft against the Netherlands in a UEFA Nations League group stage match.
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