Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp responds to Germany links with Joachim Low set to depart

Jurgen Klopp has reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool by announcing he will not be available to replace Joachim Low as Germany boss.

Low, 61, announced on Tuesday that he will step down as manager of Die Mannschaft after this summer’s delayed Euros following a 15-year spell in charge.

Reports had claimed that Klopp was the early favourite to leave Anfield and return to manage the national team of his native country.

Jurgen Klopp insists he will not be replacing Joachim Low as Germany boss after the Euros

Klopp had been the early favourite to replace Low, who quits a year prior to the end of his deal

But speaking ahead of the Reds’ second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie against RB Leipzig – which his side lead 2-0 – Klopp insisted he will not consider a move and will stick to his contract at Anfield until 2024. 

‘If you’re asking am I available for the job of the German national team in the summer, no,’ Klopp said.

‘Joachim Low did an incredible job, he is one of the best servants. I understand why he wants this as a European highlight, to squeeze the best he can from the tournament. 

‘I’m sure the German FA will find the best solution with the incredible players they have. I will not be available as a potential coach for the German team.

But the Reds boss insists he has no other plans but to stick to his Anfield contract until 2024

‘I have three years left at Liverpool don’t I? It’s simple. You sign a contract and you stick to that.’

The comments echo what the 53-year-old said in November when he similarly quashed rumours that he was poised to succeed Low, who took over from Jurgen Klinsmann following the home World Cup in 2006. 

‘Maybe in the future but now, no, because I have no time,’ Klopp said. ‘I also have a job – a pretty intense job by the way.

‘I am not sure if anybody has asked me but if they don’t know I have a job here at Liverpool.

BILD claim Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick is the leading candidate for the job

‘I like it and I am responsible for a lot of things here so I will not go and search for another challenge.’

Reports in today’s edition of BILD claim that Klopp is ‘tempted by the 2024 European Championships’ but would not consider managing Germany ‘before the 2022 World Cup’.

Rather, his focus is understood to be solely on solving the current crisis at Anfield, with the Reds having lost all of their last six Premier League games.

The German FA are expected to begin the search for his successor immediately with under-21 head coach Stefan Kuntz also an early favourite.

Under-21 head coach Stefan Kuntz is also reportedly an early favourite alongside Klopp

BILD report, however, that it is Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick who leads the race. They claim that ‘tensions at Bayern between sports director Hasan Salihamidzic and Flick are still a big issue’ and that the Germany job is a ‘tempting option’ but add that ‘only at the end of the season he will reassess his situation in Munich’.

Low’s preferred candidate to be his successor is said to be Marcus Sorg, who is on his coaching staff. Another coach, Oliver Bierhoff, would also back Sorg, according to BILD. They also report, however, that Sorg would not represent a clean break from Low so might not fit the bill.

Finally, former RB Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick is also admired by the DFB as a ‘visionary’ and ‘professor’, according to Bild, who hail his ‘great willingness to transform’.

Low took over from former boss Jurgen Klinsmann (left) following the home 2006 World Cup

Low has come under increasing scrutiny ever since Germany’s group-stage exit at the 2018 World Cup, with the latest criticism coming after they were defeated 6-0 by Spain in November. 

But he leads having also been part of success, winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and also having led Germany to a third-place finish at the 2010 World Cup as well as two European Championship semi-finals and one final in 2008, where they suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat against Spain.

As well as delivering Germany’s fourth World Cup success seven years ago, Low also won the Confederations Cup in 2017.

He had successful moments as boss, leading his country to the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil

But he has faced regular criticism since they were knocked out at the group stages in 2018