Top News

Jurgen Klopp made his stance very clear to the German media at his first press conference as the national team manager.

Klopp has warned the German media that he is fully prepared to quit the national team job if they put him through the same kind of treatment that was meted out to his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann.

The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager has returned to coaching as Germany head coach, two years after leaving Anfield.

During the period in between, Klopp worked as head of global football for Red Bull, which has led to understandable doubts in Germany over his appointment to this latest role, especially because Red Bull remains unpopular in the country after the creation of RB Leipzig in 2009.

As with the English media when it comes to their own Three Lions boss, the German media can be ruthless towards Die Mannschaft's head coach, and Bild in particular is well known for targeting managers whose methods they do not favour.

And even though he has signed a four-year deal with the DfB, Klopp has made it clear that he will leave the post if the media become too personal.

Addressing the media at his first press conference, Klopp said: “If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace then I’ll be gone, I’ll just turn away.

“I know there are other countries where national team coaches are treated even worse.

The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.

“I am not doing this job for myself, I am doing it for you. I am taking this job even though I have seen how you have treated [former Germany boss] Julian Nagelsmann and [England manager] Thomas Tuchel.

“I love this job but I am always ready to call it quits if need be.”

Klopp also suggested that this could well be his final role in football, as he feels that becoming the head coach of his country leaves him with no higher peak to reach.

He said: “Jurgen Klopp is not going to have any career after the national team.

“This is the pinnacle, the absolutely high point of my footballing career as coach. I will give everything I have got.

“Over the last few days it has almost been like a movie happening to myself.

“I have always thought the job of Germany head coach is really big, but now it is really dawning on me what being the national team head coach is all about.

“For many, many years it was unimaginable for me to take on this role. As the years went by, it became more or less evident that sooner or later I would be asked to do this job. Now I think the time is right.”