Kempf wants a quick call-up from Jürgen Klopp despite hard competition

The 31‑year‑old centre‑back Marc‑Oliver Kempf of Como 1907 clings to his dream of being called up to the German national team, even though he has already reached an advanced football age. “Never say never,” he told them and emphasized that in football coincidences can happen quickly.

Youth career with the DFB and previous achievements

Kempf progressed through all DFB national teams from U16 to U21, amassing 51 caps in which he scored three goals. The highlight came in 2017, when he won the European Championship in Poland with the U21 side. However, the jump to the senior squad eluded him because the centre‑back duo Hummels and Boateng occupied the places.

Kempf was developed in his youth at Eintracht Frankfurt, moved to SC Freiburg in 2014, then to VfB Stuttgart and in 2022 to Hertha BSC. About two years ago, Como 1907 brought him to Italy for €2,5 million. Under coach Cesc Fabregas, the club immediately achieved promotion to Serie A and last year qualified for the Champions League.

In the current 2026/27 season, Kempf has so far made three appearances for Como, partly as a starter and partly off the bench. He oscillates between the starting eleven and the bench, with his role not yet fixed.

Current competition in the German defensive centre

Under the new head coach Jürgen Klopp, the defensive centre of the German national team is numerically well‑stocked after the retirement of Antonio Rüdiger.

The established centre‑backs include Jonathan Tah (30, FC Bayern), Nico Schlotterbeck (26) and Waldemar Anton (30, both Borussia Dortmund). Challengers are Yann Aurel Bisseck (25, Inter Milan) and Malick Thiaw (25, Newcastle United), who each left a good impression during the most recent international break.

Kempf remains optimistic, because coincidences can happen quickly in football, as he himself said. His goal is to prove himself in the DFB system and earn a call‑up from Klopp.