German Football Icon Praises Incoming Coach: Matthäus Sees Beckenbauer-esque Charisma in Klopp

"Klopp possesses the same charisma as Beckenbauer once did. He's authentic, reliable, and a globally recognized figure," Matthäus stated for Bild newspaper. Beckenbauer captained West Germany to a World Cup title in 1974 and, 16 years later, led Germany to victory at the 'Mundial' as a coach.

Last week in New York, the German Football Association (DFB) leadership reached an agreement with Klopp on the key terms of his contract. He is expected to replace Julian Nagelsmann on the national team bench, who stepped down after Germany's disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The Germans surprisingly lost to Paraguay in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout.