Germany’s new head coach, Jürgen Klopp, used his first squad announcement to argue that football can help reshape how national pride is expressed. Klopp said he wanted to “reclaim the flag” and encourage people to feel positive about Germany without making others question their motives.
The remarks followed the Alternative for Germany’s landslide victory in a recent Saxony-Anhalt state election. Klopp said he was not a political expert and did not want politics to dominate his press conferences, but added that he did not want national pride to be left to “the wrong people,” according to DW.
Klopp described his approach as “positive patriotism.” He said it was possible to be proud of being German while remaining open-minded, diverse, kind and friendly. He also said Germany should focus on what it has to offer, drawing a comparison with his decision to select players for their footballing talent rather than concentrating on the team’s weaknesses.
The coach presented football as one part of a broader social picture. He stressed that doctors, nurses and people in many other professions were more important to society than footballers, while saying sport could still foster a sense of community. Klopp cited achievements by German athletes and teams, including tennis player Alexander Zverev, the country’s world champion field hockey team and successes in athletics, as examples of that potential.
Klopp’s 44-player squad includes 11 new faces, which DW said reflects the diverse society he described. He also appealed for a constructive atmosphere around the new generation, suggesting that media coverage could support the players’ development rather than become excessively negative.
His message echoed comments by former Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann after the team’s Euro 2024 exit. Nagelsmann had called for greater solidarity, neighborly support and integration. Klopp said creating the right atmosphere was part of the national team’s mission, but required people willing to embrace it.