"The problems run much deeper." That's Oliver Kahn's verdict on Jürgen Klopp's new job with the German national team — and it's worth taking seriously from someone who's seen German football from the inside at both Bayern and the DFB.
Speaking at the Bastian Schweinsteiger charity golf tournament, Kahn didn't dismiss Klopp. He called him "a very experienced man who can certainly make a difference." But he made clear that personality alone won't fix what's broken. "What kind of players do we want to develop? What kind of players do we want in the first place? How do we want to play?" Those aren't questions Klopp can answer in a press conference. They take years.
The task Klopp actually inherited
Germany's situation isn't just a bad run of form. Julian Nagelsmann resigned after the national team was knocked out in the round of 32 at the World Cup — by Paraguay. That's the floor Klopp is starting from.
Schweinsteiger, for his part, was diplomatic but honest: "You have to start from scratch. That's going to be quite a challenge for him." He added that Klopp is "the right coach for the current situation," which is the kind of thing you say when the situation genuinely calls for someone of that profile — not just routine manager-speak.
The contract runs to 2030, which signals the DFB knows this is a long rebuild. But long-term planning and short-term results don't always coexist comfortably, especially with Nations League fixtures arriving almost immediately.
Four matches, fast
Klopp's opening run in September and October is:
- September 24 — Netherlands (Amsterdam)
- September 27 — Greece (Augsburg)
- October 1 — Serbia (Munich)
- October 4 — Greece (Thessaloniki)
Netherlands away is a genuine test from the jump. Germany's price in that match will reflect the uncertainty around a new coach, a transitional squad, and a system that hasn't been defined yet. Backing them at short odds would be optimistic at best.
Kahn's warning is the most grounded take to come out of the Klopp appointment so far. The hype is real. So is the gap between where Germany are and where they need to be.
