Jürgen Klopp is the new head coach of the German national team and is tasked with getting the team back on track. The former coach of Liverpool FC and Borussia Dortmund is apparently leaving nothing to chance.
Of course, the focus is on athletic matters. But beyond that, he also plans to drive forward reforms within the federation. The youth development program is set to be improved, with structural changes planned.
Per Mertesacker will therefore soon take on a role with the DFB. He worked for many years as the head of the academy at Arsenal and brings that expertise to the table. Klopp himself will name his roster for the first international matches in mid-September. But even before then, the phones are already ringing off the hook.
Klopp in discussions with Kompany
For a national team coach, it’s important to know how current club coaches are thinking—especially those who provide national team players to the DFB. It’s about shared interests, but also about assessments of players.
According toSky, Klopp has already made phone calls for this purpose—particularly with Vincent Kompany, Niko Kovac, and Sebastian Hoeneß—that is, the coaches whose teams provide the most potential national team players.
Klopp wants to make it clear to the clubs how closely he intends to work with them and stay in regular contact. This is also important when it comes to assessing a player’s physical condition. Injured players should not be put at risk. Incidentally, this is in everyone’s best interest—that of the clubs, the players, and the national team coach alike.
Close communication therefore seems to be the way to go. If a foundation is established early on, it makes subsequent contact much easier. Klopp knows this, and he also wants to ensure internally within the association that everyone is pulling in the same direction.
