Ex-skipper Ballack hoping Klopp will take Germany job

Klopp, 56, said last month he is stepping down as Liverpool manager after the season and plans to take time off before a possible new engagement.

He has long been considered a top candidate for the national team job in his home country, and the deal of current coach Julian Nagelsmann expires in summer.

"In a normal career he would one day become manager of the German national team," former Chelsea player Ballack told English podcast Football's Greatest.

"We would love it one day because he has this quality and this character to actually symbolise all German attitudes. We need a leader like him. Whenever he is ready I think the people and the fans would love it."

Klopp started his coaching career at Mainz in 2001 before moving to Borussia Dortmund (2008-2015), winning the Bundesliga in 2011 and the German league and Cup double a year later.

He will have spent close to nine years at Anfield when he departs in summer, winning all titles on offer with them, including a first Premier League in three decades in 2020 and the Champions League in 2019.

Ballack said Klopp was "now in a position where he can make his own decisions. He can train every club in the world. Every club would be happy to have him."

Looking at the current modest state of the German team ahead of the home Euros, the 2002 World Cup runner-up Ballack admitted "it hurts" to see the team "lose against teams we shouldn't lose to."

Ballack said "we have the quality individually" but that "German strengths like discipline and attitude" which made the team difficult to beat are no longer there.

"We have lost a little bit our biggest strength which is discipline and balance and mentality. That is so necessary when you want to win a football match. Its not easy to implant that old mentality into the team to win games."

Australian Associated Press