Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has stepped down following the national team's early exit from the 2026 World Cup. The 38-year-old resigned on Friday after a three-hour secret summit on Thursday at the German Football Association (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt. The departure follows Germany's round-of-32 loss to Paraguay on penalties in Boston, marking the team's third consecutive World Cup flop after first-round exits in 2018 and 2022.
Nagelsmann, who took over the post in September 2023, was reportedly urged to consider a voluntary departure and is expected to receive an estimated 7 million euro payoff. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf thanked Nagelsmann for his extraordinary ambition, commitment, and sincerity. Although Nagelsmann had previously stated he was not someone to step down simply because of elimination, he ultimately asked to be released from his duties.
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is the DFB's preferred candidate to replace Nagelsmann and has confirmed he is in negotiations for the role. Klopp stated that he has recharged the energy he lacked when leaving Liverpool and believes the national team's problems did not hinge on Nagelsmann. He has called for intensive discussions with the federation to agree on the changes required for the team.