German FA May Face Unprecedented Move to Secure Klopp

The German Football Association (DFB) views Jurgen Klopp as the ideal successor to Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned as national team coach after a disappointing round of 16 exit at the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay, decided by a penalty shootout. However, securing the charismatic coach's services hinges entirely on the willingness of Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's CEO.

Klopp, who assumed the role of Global Head of Football at Red Bull in January 2025, is reportedly receptive to the idea of taking charge of the German national team. The sticking point lies in his contract, valid until 2029, which, according to Bild, does not include a written release clause. This means any approach from the DFB requires the express approval of Mintzlaff and Red Bull.

Should Red Bull agree to release the coach, Mintzlaff is expected to demand financial compensation in the region of one million euros. Such a scenario would be unprecedented, as the DFB has never paid a transfer fee for a national team coach. It's worth noting that Mintzlaff himself once described Klopp's hiring as "the real transfer without costs," highlighting the masterstroke of securing the coaching legend just 18 months before this current impasse.

Oliver Mintzlaff took the helm of the energy drink giant and its entire sports empire, which includes four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, in November 2022. Before his ascent to the top, Mintzlaff was the chief executive of RB Leipzig from 2014 to 2022, a period during which the club reached the Champions League. Interestingly, the role Klopp currently occupies, Global Head of Football, was previously held by Mintzlaff himself.

Known for his firm negotiation tactics, Mintzlaff famously secured 25 million euros from Bayern for the transfer of... Nagelsmann, who was then at RB Leipzig. He also stood firm in negotiations with Txiki Begiristain of Manchester City for the transfer of Josko Gvardiol, who became the world's most expensive defender at 90 million euros.

His influence extends across the world of sports and beyond. Mintzlaff is a board member of the European Club Association (ECA) and on the supervisory board of Adidas. His network of contacts includes figures like Elon Musk, Lionel Messi, and Nasser Al-Khelaifi (PSG). His opinion is highly valued within the DFB, where he was part of the "national team expert group." Now, the two parties find themselves at the negotiating table again, but on opposite sides.