According to Mundo Deportivo, Klopp's first major decision since taking over as Germany's national team coach is related to the goalkeeper position.
Klopp has made several public appearances during this World Cup, first as a commentator and then confirmed as the successor to Nagelsmann as the German national team coach. He had been unemployed since leaving Liverpool after the 2023-24 season, and after a brief stint as Red Bull's global head of football, he has now decided to return to coaching.
The Stuttgart-born coach has repeatedly stated that he will only take a break when a truly attractive project comes along. He meets all the criteria to coach the German national team. He understands that a complete overhaul of German football is necessary, not just limited to the senior national team, but also encompassing the youth training system at all levels.
The next few years are crucial for the German national team. The goal is to neither waste this generation of incredibly talented players, nor to maximize the potential of their current top players during their final years. Klopp's first major test is the 2028 European Championship, followed by the 2030 World Cup, but he must begin making critical decisions now.
His primary choice is goalkeeper. Although Neuer had previously retired from the national team, he returned to participate in the 2026 World Cup. However, he is now 40 years old, making it almost impossible for him to continue playing for the German national team in the new cycle. Therefore, several candidate goalkeepers have come into view.
German football legend Lothar Matthäus believes Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann is a good option because "he almost never makes mistakes for the national team." However, Baumann is already 36 years old, and Matthäus also acknowledges that the German national team is currently in an unusual situation.
“We haven’t had an undisputed number one goalkeeper in a long time, like we have in the last 40 to 50 years,” Matthäus said during a television appearance. He mentioned world-class goalkeepers like Sepp Maier, Oliver Kahn, and Neuer, suggesting that it might be time to bet on a young goalkeeper who can withstand the pressure, especially if 34-year-old Ter Stegen is not in the running.
One of the most promising young goalkeepers in German football right now is Ulbigich. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper is also considered a potential future starter at the Allianz Arena. "Ulbigich will get more playing time this season than last season," said Matthäus.
But he also admitted his doubts: "I don't recall any top football powerhouse whose starting goalkeeper was a second-choice goalkeeper at a club." There are many questions and many options, but Klopp is well aware that the goalkeeper position is the foundation for winning major tournaments.
