Klopp Unveiled as National Team Coach—Mertesacker to Follow

The DFB is not just turning a page; it is ripping out a whole chapter and starting again.

On the day Jürgen Klopp is officially presented as the new national team coach, the association is also preparing another major move at the top of German football. According to matching reports from Sky and RTL, Per Mertesacker is set to become the new managing director for sport, succeeding Andreas Rettig.

Two World Cup winners, two different generations, one clear signal: the DFB wants a fresh identity built around big personalities with proven credibility.

The timing is striking. While Klopp steps into the spotlight in Frankfurt, Mertesacker’s role is being sealed more quietly. The reports say his signature is expected today, with the formal start of his tenure planned for January 2027. His contract is set to run through the 2030 World Cup, tying his mandate directly to a full tournament cycle.

That is no short-term patch. It is a long-term bet on a man who lifted the World Cup trophy in 2014 and has since built a reputation as a thoughtful, modern football thinker.

The decision is expected to be announced today, yet Mertesacker himself will not be present in Frankfurt. No big stage, no joint photo with Klopp, no choreographed handshake. The DFB is splitting the spotlight: Klopp commands the cameras, while the structural rebuild in the background quietly takes shape.

Rettig’s successor will inherit a job that reaches far beyond the national team bench. The managing director for sport shapes direction, culture, and the link between federation, clubs, and coaches. With a contract running to 2030, Mertesacker would be tasked with helping steer Germany through at least one full World Cup project, alongside the new era under Klopp.

Two announcements, one day, and a clear message from the DFB: the future of German football is being redrawn at the very top.