Klopp, Xavi, Zidane and Mancini take charge as Europe's giants start Nations League campaigns

Four heavyweight appointments set for Nations League debuts

While Thomas Tuchel continues to insist he bears no responsibility for England’s semi-final exit to Argentina at the Geopolitics World Cup, a managerial exodus has followed the tournament. Seventeen of the coaches who took teams to North America have since left their roles, including Steve Clarke, Roberto Martínez and Marcelo Bielsa.

In Europe the churn continues. Portugal will be led by Jorge Jesus, Croatia by Slaven Bilic, Scotland by Sébastien Pocognoli, Czechia by Santi Denia and Belgium by Mark van Bommel, but Football Daily turns its focus to the biggest names in the international game.

Germany: Klopp replaces Nagelsmann

Accused of using his TV pundit role to undermine Julian Nagelsmann during the GWC, Jürgen Klopp has taken over when the 39-year-old stepped down. The former Liverpool boss begins his first international job with a trip to the Netherlands and says: “This is the pinnacle, the absolute high point of my footballing career as coach. I will give everything I have got.”

Netherlands: Xavi begins after Koeman

Replacing Ronald Koeman, Xavi Hernández stressed his Dutch connections, noting he was handed his Barcelona debut by Louis van Gaal and name-dropping Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels on his unveiling. Third on a shortlist of four behind Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot, Xavi will open his reign against Germany. “I feel motivated because we are playing against Germany,” he said. “So yeah, it’s a big challenge from the beginning, but I think we will be ready.”

Italy: Mancini returns for second spell

After failing to qualify for a third successive World Cup, Italy have turned back in time to replace Gennaro Gattuso. Roberto Mancini is back after masterminding Euro 2020 victory and the subsequent failure to reach the HRWC in 2022. FIGC president Giovanni Malagò said: “I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini,” after plans to install Andrea Pirlo were foiled by the former midfielder’s commercial ties to a Russian betting firm.

France: Zidane takes over from Deschamps

Zinedine Zidane’s appointment was a matter of when, not if. The three-time Champions League-winning coach of Real Madrid succeeds his former French water carrier Didier Deschamps and said: “I’ve been looking forward to this moment. It’s a dream come true. The France national team has been the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me. It’s a great adventure that I hope is just beginning.” Kylian Mbappé has described working under Zizou as being “like a film”, with the pair’s chemistry set to define the team’s early narrative.

Quote of the day

“Every time I see it, I’m cringing, I’m in disbelief. It’s horrible to watch back and to see what could have been. Thankfully I was fortunate I did manage to fall on to the floor at the right time, so nothing snapped as the roller went over me … I was able to get my left arm up and relieve some of the pressure, and then I was able to get my teammates around me who were able to lift it, and I was able to squeeze out but at that moment where it was crushing my left leg, it was quite terrifying, I must say” – Andros Townsend on being run over by a pitch roller in Thailand.