Matthäus highlights similarities between Klopp and Beckenbauer

Jürgen Klopp has the same charisma as German football icon Franz Beckenbauer which could help him as national team coach, German record international Lothar Matthäus has said.

Matthäus, who was captain in 1990, spoke of similarities between the two in a column on Wednesday in the Bild paper.

"What Beckenbauer and Klopp have in common above all is their charisma. Their international appeal," Matthäus wrote.

"Charisma, authenticity, reliability and a clear sense of direction, both as a person and in football — that's what Franz Beckenbauer stood for. And that's what Jürgen Klopp stands for, too.

Beckenbauer won the World Cup in 1974 as a player and again in 1990 at the end of a six-year term as coach. He was already an icon when he took over the team in 1984 and cemented it with the 1990 title.

Klopp, who is set to take over from Julian Nagelsmann, does not have the same pedigree as a player but has won titles as coach at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool to be held in high esteem.

For that reason Matthäus said the fame of Beckenbauer, who died two years ago, and Klopp has other origins.

He added that Klopp is much further along than Beckenbauer was in 1984, "although, strictly speaking, Franz wasn't really a coach.

"He never earned a coaching license. He set the direction, tactics, and strategy, but he always had a strong coaching staff around him, to whom he delegated tasks such as training drills. It probably won't be much different with Klopp."

Matthäus said that Klopp "is also so popular with the public because, as a player, he was nowhere near as naturally gifted or successful as Franz - and yet still made it all the way to the top.

"Fans see him as one of their own; he embodies the dream of rising through the ranks through honest hard work."