Jurgen Klopp set to appoint his former player as Germany assistant coach

Sven Bender is reportedly set to become Jurgen Klopp’s assistant manager with the Germany national team.

The former Liverpool boss will be unveiled as Julian Nagelsmann’s successor this week.

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Klopp is understood to have agreed terms on a four-year deal through to the end of the 2030 World Cup.

It comes after Nagelsmann left the role following Germany’s penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the round of 32 this summer.

Ahead of Klopp’s appointment becoming official, his backroom team is now starting to take shape.

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Sven Bender is in talks to become his assistant.

Negotiations are said to be in the final stages but nothing has yet been signed.

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder will be joined by two of Klopp’s ex-Liverpool staff members on his coaching staff.

Both Peter Krawietz and Pep Lijnders are also expected to join the national team set-up.

Meanwhile, Per Mertesacker remains in talks to become the German FA’s new managing director.

Familiar face

As a player, Bender made 181 appearances for Dortmund under Klopp during his fabled time as manager.

The pair won two Bundesliga titles and reached the 2013 Champions League final together.

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Bender also lifted the DFB Pokal in 2012 as part of a league and cup double for Klopp’s side.

Having won seven caps for Germany, the 37-year-old retired in the summer of 2024.

He has previously worked with the national team at youth level as well as a brief return to Dortmund as Edin Terzic’s assistant.

Bender’s most recent role saw him manage Unterhaching to a third place finish in the German fourth-tier last season.

Klopp’s task

As for Klopp, he is set to take on his first coaching role since leaving Liverpool two years ago.

The 59-year-old has been Red Bull’s head of global soccer since the start of last year, with his deal running until the end of 2029.

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However, it is now understood he will be unveiled as Germany boss at a press conference in Frankfurt on Friday.

His first match in charge will come away to the Netherlands in September as the Nations League gets underway.

Germany will also face Greece and Serbia in the competition ahead of the start of Euro 2028 qualifying next year.

Klopp is set to be tasked with banishing the national team’s recent major tournament woes.

Their early World Cup exit this summer extended a 12-year wait for a knockout victory at the finals.

Germany have not won a match during the knockout stage since beating Argentina in the 2014 final.

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Although they did advance from the group stage for the first time in three World Cups, Nagelsmann’s side once again failed to reach the last 16.

Their recent record at the Euros has not been much better, with a round of 16 defeat to England in 2021 before losing to Spain in the quarter-finals on home soil two years ago.