New Germany coach bears uncanny resemblance to the Trivago ads guy

Get out. It’s actually him! Part-time sports journalists around the world, or just one in particular, have admitted to experiencing one of the most confusing faux pas of their careers this week after discovering the man they were about to compare to "the guy from the Trivago ads" was, in fact, the actual guy from the Trivago ads.

Following Germany's disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, the German Football Association unveiled Jürgen Klopp as its new national team coach, leaving one particularly embarrassed columnist (this one) to quietly delete the opening line of his article which read, "Germany hires the guy from the Trivago ads as new their new football coach?”

"I genuinely thought I was making a clever observation," the writer admitted. "Then I Googled him and realised I'd researched my own punchline." Yes, this is genuinely what I said and yes, my editor is making me publish this.

Klopp, who has spent the past two years smiling his way through Trivago advertisements as brand ambassador and viewed by millions worldwide, is now tasked with rebuilding Germany after another disappointing World Cup exit. 

Analysts say he'll be one of the most instantly recognisable national team coaches in football history, thanks largely to a smile many consumers can identify long before remembering what Trivago actually does.

Brand recognition expert Lars Hoffmann, said the appointment is a masterclass in distinctive assets. "Some coaches have a trademark formation. Klopp has his exceptionally white teeth." While going onto say, "You could silhouette that smile from 300 metres away and half the planet would think about comparing hotel prices."

In the coming months it’s expected that millions of casual viewers will tune into watch Germany's next international fixture before asking the person next to them, "Hang on... isn't that the Trivago guy?" only to discover that, Ja, das ist er.

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