Klopp as Germany coach? Hamann thinks German FA should bide its time

Jürgen Klopp may be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season but former Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the German Football Federation (DFB) should give him time to recharge his batteries before approaching him over the Germany job.

Klopp shocked the football world with his announcement on Friday, saying he no longer had the "energy" to coach Liverpool after a Champions League triumph and Premier League title during his nine-year reign.

Germany are being coached by Julian Nagelsmann, but he only has a contract until the home Euros in June. Although a vacancy may become available in July, Hamann believes the DFB should respect Klopp's wishes to have a "normal life" for a while and then talk.

"Maybe the DFB can hire an interim coach for a year if Julian Nagelsmann quits after the European Championship, even if it wouldn't be ideal," the former Liverpool player told Sky.

"But if you can get Jürgen Klopp, you might have to wait a year for him so that he can take over the national team in 2025 a year before the World Cup."

The DFB would have to be active in trying to recruit Klopp given he will also be courted by top teams across the globe, although he has said he would never coach another English side.

"Klopp has been one of the best coaches in the last 10 or 20 years and you mustn't forget that we have outstanding individual players in Germany," Hamann added, saying that although Germany as a team have flopped in recent years the quality is still there.

The DFB has already opened the door to a possible Klopp approach, with vice-president Ronny Zimmermann saying: "I don't think we even need to discuss the fact Jürgen Klopp is a brilliant coach. He could also be a candidate as national coach.

"But for now, I'm hoping for a good European Championship with an ideally great outcome for Germany against all the odds. We have no chance, so we have nothing to lose."