BINH DUONG
The German national team's unexpected loss to Colombia in a recent friendly match has created criticism aimed directly at coach Hansi Flick, with domestic media even calling for his dismissal and replacement with coach Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp is currently the longest-serving coach in the Premier League. Photo: India Times
Bild, Germany's best-selling newspaper, has called on the German Football Association (DFB) to sack coach Flick after his team has only won four of its last 16 matches. The poor form comes just 12 months before EURO 2024 kicks off in Germany. To salvage the situation, Bild's sports editor Matthias Brugelmann has suggested Klopp, currently the captain of Liverpool FC. "The DFB must win Klopp with all its strength. Because the love Klopp has will help create excitement and lead the German team to glory at EURO," Brugelmann urged.
In an online poll, Bild asked readers who should coach Germany ahead of the Euros and Jurgen Klopp came out on top with 47% of the vote. Julian Nagelsmann, the former Bayern Munich coach, came second with just 17%, while Flick came third with 11%.
However, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf confirmed that coach Flick will still lead the German team in the two friendly matches against Japan and France in September. But if the situation does not improve, the possibility of the German strategist leaving is very high.
Few doubt that Klopp is the DFB's favourite to take over if Flick's job becomes increasingly uncertain. DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke is said to be keen to see Germany coached by Klopp, with whom he worked at Borussia Dortmund.
Klopp left his position as coach of Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2015 to go to England to "take the reins" of Liverpool and reap many successes. Over the past 8 years, Klopp's reputation has also increased sharply. He regularly appears in television commercials for the Erdinger Brewery, the DVAG Financial Advisory Company... Fellow coaches such as Flick, Joachim Low, Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel have never had such public love.
Coach Klopp spent 7 years leading FSV Mainz 05. But the way Klopp "transformed" Borussia Dortmund has raised his reputation and after his success with Liverpool, the 56-year-old coach is considered one of the best German football ambassadors abroad. That is the reason why many companies want to cooperate with Coach Klopp.
The Klopp family still have a home in Mainz, Germany, just 45 minutes by car from Frankfurt. He has talked about moving back there once he leaves Liverpool and taking a year off before taking on another challenge.
However, Klopp extended his contract with Liverpool last year to stay in the port city until the summer of 2026. Despite Liverpool struggling to qualify for the Champions League last season, Klopp is more motivated than ever for the challenge ahead. He is determined to get the club back on track to win the biggest trophies and prove that last season was just an “accident”.
Source link
Comment (0)