Bender joins Klopp at DFB – new duo set for 2030 World Cup push
Germany’s national team is getting a fresh coaching setup. According to Bild and Kicker, Sven Bender will join Jürgen Klopp as assistant coach. The 37-year-old has deep ties to Klopp: they won back-to-back Bundesliga titles together at Borussia Dortmund in 2011 and 2012. Bender most recently coached the U16 national youth side and briefly led SpVgg Unterhaching in the Regionalliga before his June 2026 dismissal.
The news lands just as Klopp nears his official unveiling as the new DFB head coach. Reports say he will sign a contract this week running through the 2030 World Cup. His assistant team is expected to include Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders – both longtime Klopp lieutenants from his Liverpool days. Bender would round out the trio. The national side is rebuilding after its early 2026 World Cup exit.
Why Bender fits Klopp’s system perfectly
Sven Bender knows exactly how Klopp wants his team to play. As a defensive midfielder he was part of the BVB sides that claimed the Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012. In 2013 they reached the Champions League final, losing narrowly to Bayern Munich. Bender earned seven caps for the national team in 2011 and was part of the 2016 Olympic squad.
He already has coaching experience: before Unterhaching he served as an assistant under Edin Terzić and Nuri Şahin at Dortmund. At the DFB he coached the U16s from 2022 to 2023. That mix of playing pedigree and staff know-how makes him a natural fit beside Klopp. After the disappointing 2026 World Cup exit, the national team badly needs continuity.
What’s next for the DFB: the road after Klopp’s arrival
Klopp is set to be presented at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt once the contract is signed. His staff will take charge of the 2030 World Cup qualifiers. Germany’s last five matches ended 3W-1D-1L, with the most recent a 1–1 draw against Paraguay on 29 June 2026.
The next test comes on 24 September 2026 in the Netherlands. Klopp and his assistants must quickly earn the trust of players and fans after the early World Cup exit. Bender brings not just tactical nous but a direct link to a golden era of German football.
