Klopp wants job as Nagelsmann resigns as Germany coach

"With regard to filling the coaching post, the DFB leadership will now seek talks with Jürgen Klopp," a statement said.

"He has already signalled his fundamental willingness to take on the position."

German national Klopp is currently head of Red Bull's global football operations.

The 59-year-old, who clinched two German championships with Borussia Dortmund before winning the Premier League and Champions League, left Liverpool two years ago saying he wanted a break from the touchline.

Nagelsmann's fate was sealed after the team lost 4-3 on penalties against outsiders Paraguay in the first knock-out round game on Monday, with most of the media criticism directed at the coach.

Four-time champions Germany had also lost their last group match against Ecuador, after winning their first two games at the tournament against Curaçao and Ivory Coast.

"Stakeholder representatives and the supervisory board of DFB GmbH & Co. KG on Friday unanimously decided, on the proposal of DFB president Bernd Neuendorf, to immediately terminate the contractual relationship with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann," the DFB added.

"Nagelsmann had already asked in a confidential conversation with the association's leadership the previous day to be released from his duties. The stakeholder representatives and supervisory board have now granted that request."

Former Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich coach Nagelsmann, 38, landed the national team job in September 2023 when succeeding Hansi Flick.

He oversaw 37 matches, of which Germany won 23, with seven draws and seven defeats. He led the team to the quarter-finals of the home Euros in 2024 and into the Nations League finals last year.

But his tactics at the World Cup and brusk manner with players such as Deniz Undav, as well as some reporters, appear to have contributed to his departure.

Reports have speculated the DFB wanted the coach gone but asked him to quit so his severance pay would not be as large as if they sacked him. His contract ran until 2028.

Nagelsmann said: "The decision was anything but easy for me. My top goal was always the team's success. After such a bitter disappointment, they deserve the chance of a fresh start free of baggage."

To Germany fans, he added: "I am deeply sorry and it hurts that we disappointed you and were not able to give you any more football nights at this World Cup. You would have deserved much more!"

Germany's next match is their Nations League start on September 24 against the Netherlands. Greece and Serbia are the other opponents in the group stage which runs until November.

The DFB will hope to have Klopp in place long before then but will have to agree a deal with Red Bull's sports division, which runs clubs around the world such as RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls.

Klopp would have a big job on his hands given Germany have struggled across tournaments since winning the World Cup in 2014.