He was once hailed as Liverpool’s footballing messiah. Now Jurgen Klopp has been asked to work miracles for his country.

Last month, Klopp watched on as a touchline TV pundit as Germany went out of the World Cup in a shock penalty shootout defeat by Paraguay.

The loss led head coach Julian Nagelsmann to resign and plunged German football into a full-scale identity crisis.

Just three weeks later, it is Klopp who has been tasked with picking up the pieces and restoring his country’s once-famous winning mentality, signing a four-year deal to become head coach.

Assigned with leading the team through Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup, Klopp’s first game in charge will be against the Netherlands on 24 September.

“The national team can unite us Germans like almost nothing else. That’s precisely what makes this task so special for me,” Klopp said.

A Champions League and Premier League winner with Liverpool and a two-time Bundesliga champion with Borussia Dortmund, the 59-year-old is already considered one of the greatest German managers.

Yet while many believe he is the perfect man for the national team job, the appointment has also sparked fierce debate in Germany.

For the German football association (DFB), securing Klopp’s signature has been a priority since Nagelsmann resigned in the wake of the Paraguay defeat.

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said Klopp “embodies passion, credibility, and the ability to inspire people”.

“After Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation, he was our unequivocal choice for the position of national team coach. That’s why we pursued him relentlessly,” Neuendorf added.

Now the deal is done.

Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix is set to join Chelsea on a long-term contract after the clubs reached agreement on a deal for the player.

BBC Sport reported on Tuesday that both clubs had held positive talks over a move for the France international, with Palace seeking about £60m for the centre-back.

An agreement has now been reached between the two clubs, with personal terms not believed to be an issue.

Lacroix is expected to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours before signing a long-term contract, understood to run until 2032.

The agreement between the two London clubs has been negotiated at ownership level.

The 26-year-old was a regular under Oliver Glasner last season, making 55 appearances in all competitions as Palace won the Uefa Conference League, the club’s first major European trophy.

He also featured in Palace’s Community Shield victory over Liverpool and helped the Eagles secure another strong Premier League campaign.

Lacroix’s performances earned him a place in France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. He made three appearances during the tournament, including starts against Norway and England in the third-place play-off, as Les Bleus finished fourth.

Palace signed Lacroix from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial fee of £15.5m, with a further £2.6m in potential add-ons.

He has gone on to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s most consistent central defenders.

Peak newsletter 🧠 | This is an excerpt from The Athletic’s weekly newsletter covering the mental side of sports. Sign up here to receive the Peak newsletter directly in your inbox.

Sometimes the most valuable advice comes from people who have lived through the process: trying, failing, learning and trying again.

With that in mind, I asked 13 successful athletes to share the single best piece of mental advice they’ve ever received.

I hope you might find some insight that stays with you somewhere in their answers.

Steph Curry: Next play

Curry is a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA MVP who has spent his entire career with the Golden State Warriors.

Curry: Coach Bob McKillop at Davidson always preached “next play” mentality. I needed it in college because I used to turn the ball over all the time.

And he was like, “Don’t let that linger to the next play.”

You know, intentional amnesia.

Next play mentality is a life principle, too. You’re not always going to get it right, you’re not always going to get it perfect, but you do have another opportunity, God willing, to make the necessary changes. So next play mentality, keep your confidence.

I think it keeps a level of control amongst the uncontrollable. That’s what life is. There are so many things and factors and variables that you don’t control, but you do control how you respond to them. That was his way of bringing that idea to life.

Austin Reaves: Be true to yourself

Reaves is a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. After going undrafted out of Oklahoma, he signed a new contract this offseason.

Reaves: LeBron James told me that my rookie year. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t like going out. I stay in the house, and that was the first thing he told me.

He was like, “Don’t try to fit in with anybody that you’re not. If you want to do something, do it. If not, do what you like to do.”

I felt like a weight off my shoulders because I could just be myself every day instead of trying to act like somebody else.

It’s not even necessarily anything to do with basketball or sports. I think it’s just life in general. Be yourself and be a good person, and at the end of the day, good things will happen.”

Charles Barkley: Don’t worry about other people

Barkley is an NBA Hall of Famer and 11 time All-Star.

Barkley: You handle your business, and you’ll be successful.

You can’t worry about other people because sometimes you play with people who don’t have a great work ethic, or you work with people who don’t have a great work ethic.

You can’t get frustrated. You just have to do your part.

Suni Lee: You’re the only person that knows all of the work you put in

Suni Lee is a six-time Olympic medalist and two-time Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.

Don’t listen to outsiders and enjoy the process. A lot of the time, I found myself not enjoying the process. I stressed myself out so much that I got lost in the moment, so I learned to be present.

Dion Dawkins: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams

Dawkins is a Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills.

Dawkins: My mom always said that. I have it tattooed on the back of my head.

Jason Kelce: Embrace losing

Kelce played 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the Philadelphia Eagles, and was a six-time All-Pro. 

Kelce: As much as that sucks, you don’t like losing — the goal is to go out and win — but you learn a lot in those losses and in those training days. It’s a feedback loop of how to improve.

I think sometimes people get so down on themselves because in the moment they had a poor performance.

In reality, yeah, that was a bad game, you didn’t do what you were supposed to do, and that sucks. But it’s also an opportunity to now do better the next time.

Seth Curry: Walk your own path

The younger brother of Steph, Seth Curry is a guard in the NBA who has played for 10 teams across 12 seasons.

Curry: Don’t look to your left or your right. Don’t try to compare yourself to other people.

Chase Utley: Trust yourself

Utley made six All-Star teams and won a World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Utley: At a certain point, you get to a level where there’s a reason why you’re there. At that point, you need to trust your ability.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr.: Sleep is underrated

Fitzgerald is a Hall of Fame wide receiver who spent his 17-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. 

Fitzgerald: It’s an important aspect in being able to regulate your emotions and all those things. I’m an eight-hour-a-night guy, and if I don’t get that, I don’t do well. I’m not as nice, I’m not as punctual, all those things. I need my rest and being able to get that keeps me in a good mindset.

Faith Torrez: Take the time on the hard days if you need it

Torrez is the 2026 NCAA all-around champion and a five-time NCAA champion for the Oklahoma Sooners.

I think that’s such good advice. You need to be mentally there and mentally prepared. Especially with gymnastics, it has been so important. So even journaling, I think it’s a great thing to do. Taking care of yourself.

I journal a lot. I love it. I think people don’t do it enough. It’s a little intimidating. You’re like, My feelings. Oh my gosh. But honestly, it’s amazing

Jim Abbott: Understand your strengths

Born without a right hand, Abbott pitched for 10 years in the major leagues.

Abbott: I think it’s important to focus on what you’ve been given, rather than on what you don’t have. And understand what you bring to the table.

I don’t care (about) the challenge or the team or the competition; if you can focus on what you can do, amazing things are possible.

Baker Mayfield: You’re never alone

Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy in college and is the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Mayfield: I think asking for help is something that people feel ashamed of doing. But you have more people that care about you than you think. I’ve gone through things myself, and I’ve had teammates go through certain things, but you always have people in your corner.

Dexter Fowler: Enjoy it

Fowler is a former MLB All-Star and World Series Champion with the Chicago Cubs. 

Fowler: My dad used to always tell me, “Have fun playing the game.” And then I realized in life, if you’re going to have fun with it, you’re going to succeed.

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