Nagelsmann QUITS to avoid the sack with Jurgen Klopp primed to take his job

Dailymail — Julian Nagelsmann has fallen on his sword - quitting as Germany manager after their disastrous World Cup elimination by Paraguay and the row engulfing him regarding the team's wives and girlfriends.

Nagelsmann, 38, saw his side knocked out in the round of 32 on penalties and the German FA gave him an ultimatum to step aside. He will now receive a £6million pay-off and ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already been sounded out about taking over to revive the ailing football giant.

Having been summoned to a three-hour meeting at the DFB's headquarters in Frankfurt on Thursday, Nagelsmann was taken to task over his tactical decisions, as well as a 'family and friends atmosphere' in the Germany camp. Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus claimed team disputes had been caused by players' wives and girlfriends, suggesting squad members had been distracted.

After losing against Paraguay, the former Bayern Munich manager said 'I'm definitely not one to run away', but he was told to consider resigning voluntarily, with bosses said to want him to depart with his 'head held high'.

He has decided to do just that, walking away when it had been planned for him to lead the team in the European Championship in two years.

Nagelsmann has attracted heat over the WAGs situation, sparked initially by questions about his own wife Lena Wurzenberger being around the camp.

Wurzenberger, 34, had become a talking point having been a 'constant presence' around the camp.

The former sports journalist, who switched job after being linked to Nagelsmann, was first spotted at Germany's pre-tournament camp in Frankfurt, when she was pictured watching training from a balcony along with a host of the players' partners.

Wurzenberger was then seen watching Germany's substitutes complete their warm down after their 7-1 win over Curacao in their opening match and accompanied Nagelsmann back to the team hotel, before the duo were seen cycling to training together the following morning.

'There is naturally always that feeling that when the boss's wife is in the room, you might not always be completely honest at the table when talking about the national coach,' reporters had speculated.

Matthaus said of the situation: 'There's a lot to process, both on and off the pitch. Wives, families, everyone was involved. Lots of headlines.

'I don't know why you have to involve all the families right from the start.

'Then it's about travel options, about hotel bookings. That was all a topic within the team. It never appeared in the media, but I know it was a topic of discussion.

'One player was angry with another because one player's mother was allowed to fly along, while another's wife and children were allowed to fly. The others had to take a commercial flight.'

The partners of Kai Havertz, Manuel Neuer, Alexander Nubel, Nadiem Amiri and Leon Goretzka had been high-profile figures in the stands at the World Cup.

Now, it appears Germany will turn to former Liverpool manager Klopp - who is interested in the job.

Klopp was an awkward pitchside presence throughout the tournament, while Nagelsmann was under pressure, working on German television.

Speaking about the clamour for him to take over, Klopp said: 'I haven't thought about that yet.

'I understand that my name is being mentioned now. But it's not the time to talk about that.'