Klopp takes over Germany with a stern warning: 'Leave my family alone'

The German Football Association officially presented Jürgen Klopp as the new head coach of the national team on Friday. The 59-year-old replaces Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned after Germany's shocking penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay at the recent World Cup. For Klopp, it marks his first full return to hands-on coaching since ending his nine-year tenure at Liverpool. During a press conference that lasted more than 45 minutes, he immediately drew a hard line: journalists must leave his family in peace. If the media harasses his relatives, he will walk away from the job without a single euro in severance. Klopp stressed he had seen what happened to Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel and understands how things work in different countries. He asked to be judged solely on his professional output and criticized only for what happens on the pitch. He also made clear he accepted the role out of national pride, not because he desperately needed to get back into football. His contract runs for four years, allowing him to prepare Germany for the 2030 World Cup to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Notably, his departure from the role of global head of football at Red Bull involved a €1 million donation to the company's charitable foundation and a commitment to play three matches in Leipzig. A long-standing critic of the overloaded international calendar, Klopp promised to show understanding toward club managers. He said he won't fight tooth and nail for a player if his club coach asks for rest after a grueling run of games. Despite having less time with his squad than in club football, he remains confident that his trademark style can adapt to the national team setup.