UEFA Nations League: Stars align on the touchline

The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League kicks off this week with a starry cast of new managers on the touchlines, headlined by a blockbuster clash between the Netherlands and Germany in Amsterdam on Friday.

The League A Group 2 opener marks the highly anticipated international managerial debuts of Jurgen Klopp and Xavi.

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Xavi’s appointment makes him the first foreign coach to lead the Dutch national team since 1978. The 46-year-old Barcelona icon signed a four-year contract after Ronald Koeman resigned following a disappointing last-32 exit at the 2026 World Cup. Calling himself "partly a son of Dutch football" due to the influence of Johan Cruyff, Louis van Gaal, and Frank Rijkaard, Xavi aims to ditch Koeman’s rigid pragmatism. Instead, he plans to build an ego-free squad focused on attacking, possession-based football.

Two years after ending his legendary spell at Liverpool because he was "running out of energy", Jurgen Klopp has now reached the “pinnacle” of his coaching career after stepping onto the international stage for the first time to spearhead a new era for his beloved Germany. Klopp begins an adventure many Germans thought would never happen. After a stint as Red Bull’s global sports director, the 59-year-old takes over a side reeling from a disastrous World Cup under Julian Nagelsmann. Klopp has already stamped his authority on the team by calling up 44 players, split into two squads, for his opening fixtures against the Dutch, Greece, and Serbia.

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The post-World Cup cycle has triggered a massive shakeup across the continent, with 10 European nations appointing new coaches. Following Friday's action, the spotlight will shift to Zinedine Zidane, who makes his long-awaited debut as France manager later on Saturday.

Zidane, 54, succeeds Didier Deschamps, whose 14-year reign ended this summer. The three-time Champions League-winning coach revealed he spent the last five years rejecting club offers specifically for this opportunity. "The France job was the only one I wanted," Zidane said. "I'm ready for the challenge." His appointment has invigorated the squad, with captain Kylian Mbappe calling his former idol's arrival "like a film, but real."

Beyond the marquee names, several other heavyweights are ushering in new eras. Reigning Nations League champions Portugal, now managed by Jorge Jesus, face Wales on Friday. Italy has welcomed back Euro 2020 winner Roberto Mancini to steady the floundering Azzurri, while Mark van Bommel takes charge of Belgium. Slaven Bilic has also returned for a second stint with Croatia.

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Meanwhile, stability reigns in Spain. Luis de la Fuente – fresh off a contract extension through 2032 – will lead his world champions against Thomas Tuchel’s England at Wembley on Saturday, rounding out a weekend defined by fresh starts and high-stakes European football.