Germany under pressure to find new coach ahead of home Euros

Jürgen Klopp would be welcomed by many but is the least likely option while Julian Nagelsmann is a potential contender as Germany are looking for a new national team coach after Hansi Flick had to go following an embarrassing 4-1 home defeat to Japan, reported dpa.

Flick was appointed to the top job in 2021 after long-serving and 2014 World Cup winner coach Joachim Löw decided to leave his position.

But Flick was left badly exposed by a third consecutive defeat this year on Saturday and was released on Sunday after winning just four of his last 17 games.

Germany director Rudi Völler, under-20 coach Hannes Wolf and his assistant Sandro Wagner will take charge on a one-off basis for Tuesday's friendly in Dortmund against World Cup runners-up France.

It can't be ruled out that Völler could become a permanent solution, after previously being in charge 2000-2004, and the German Football Federation (DFB) is under pressure to get it right ahead of the Euro 2024 tournament on home ground.

Liverpool manager Klopp is a fan favourite to take over but the former Borussia Dortmund boss has a contract with the English club until 2026 and has previously rejected the national team job.

Former Bayern Munich coach Nagelsmann is also on the DFB radar. He's been on the market since being sacked by the Bavarians in March.

Nagelsmann still has a contract with Bayern until 2026, but the German record champions could be interested in finding a solution for that issue. However, it's not clear whether Nagelsmann would be interested in taking over an unsettled team after his undistinguished departure from Bayern.

Former RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick would have liked to take the job once, but seems now happy at the Austria national team, while Oliver Glasner, who led Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League title in 2022, is also speculated to be on DFB's list.

Austrian Glasner, who was dismissed by Frankfurt at the end of the past season and currently has no job, would be Germany's first foreign coach.

Former Germany under-21 coach and current Turkey boss Stefan Kuntz is appreciated within the DFB due to his pleasant and constructive communication style, therefore a possible option to replace Flick.