Jurgen Klopp Takes Over Germany with a Simple Challenge: 'Be Less Sh*t' and Bring 'Heavy Metal Football'
Jurgen Klopp has been given a straightforward task: to be "less sh*t" as he steps into his role as manager of the Germany national team. Former Germany international Robert Huth told GOAL that Klopp, known for his time at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, is expected to introduce his energetic "heavy metal football" style to the international stage while aiming for success at the European Championship and World Cup.
From Liverpool Legend to Germany’s Dugout
Klopp ended his memorable nine-year spell at Anfield in 2024, having delivered Premier League and Champions League titles to Liverpool. After leaving, he took on the role of Head of Global Football at Red Bull, enjoying more family time and stepping away from the daily pressure of coaching, including team selection and transfers.
Despite this break, Klopp’s passion for coaching never faded. Rumors linked him to several high-profile roles across Europe, including Real Madrid. But after seeing Julian Nagelsmann’s disappointing exit at the 2026 World Cup, Klopp accepted the challenge of leading Die Mannschaft. Now 59, he has signed a contract through to the 2030 World Cup, ready to bring his unique style back to the field.
Expectations and Early Impressions
When asked about what Klopp needs to achieve, Huth was blunt: "Be less sh*t! The bar isn’t very high right now." He believes Klopp’s appointment has already brought unity within German football, sparking excitement among fans and players alike. Huth recalled Klopp’s first press conference, where his honest, no-nonsense message fired up listeners: "If you want to play for Germany, you need to run harder, fight harder, and care more when wearing the badge."
“There were no clever words. It was like, ‘listen, if you want to play for Germany, you’re going to have to run a bit harder, you’re going to have to fight harder, this is going to mean a bit more when you put the badge on’.”
Klopp avoided blaming previous managers but made it clear Germany must improve compared to other nations who advanced further in recent tournaments. Bundesliga clubs have responded positively to his approach, and Klopp has been actively attending games during pre-season and club fixtures.
Huth expects Germany to perform better in upcoming tournaments, though he acknowledges strong competition from teams like France, England, Brazil, and Argentina. "We’ve been sh*t since 2014," he added, suggesting a semi-final appearance would already be an improvement. If Germany can match the intensity and energy Klopp displayed at Liverpool and Dortmund, fans have reason to be excited.
“If Germany can replicate any kind of Liverpool’s and Dortmund’s intensity, pace, energy, spirit, I’m getting excited! I know it’s difficult to replicate it in the national team, but if they can do it, if you can do it, that would be heavy metal football!”
Upcoming Fixtures and Path Forward
Klopp’s tenure begins with a UEFA Nations League match against the Netherlands on Thursday at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena. His home debut follows on Sunday versus Greece at Augsburg’s WWK Arena. Qualification for Euro 2028 starts in March 2027, with Germany’s best recent major tournament result being a quarter-final run at Euro 2024 on home soil.
- UEFA Nations League Match: Netherlands vs Germany
- Date: 24 September 2026
- Time: 21:45
