Said El Mala's Rise: From 3. Liga to Germany Under Klopp
Said El Mala’s rise shows no sign of slowing. Now it is set to run straight through the heart of the new Germany under Jürgen Klopp.
According to BILD, the 20-year-old FC Cologne forward has been named in Klopp’s expanded squad for the upcoming international window, putting him on the brink of a first senior cap. If he steps onto the pitch, he will become the first Cologne player to feature for Germany since Jonas Hector in 2019.
The formal paperwork had still not landed in Cologne’s offices by Tuesday afternoon, but the message to the player was clear: pack your bags. You’re in.
Klopp tears up the old script
Klopp’s move is more than a routine call-up. It is a statement. The new national team coach has opted for a broader squad for a packed autumn schedule, and El Mala is one of the clearest symbols of that fresh start.
The contrast with the previous regime is sharp. Julian Nagelsmann first called El Mala into the senior setup 10 months ago, only to leave him out of the matchday squads against Luxembourg and Slovakia. The forward never got off the bench, then disappeared from the final 2026 World Cup roster altogether. The omission rankled in Cologne, where the club had expected a genuine chance for their young star.
Under Klopp, the door is no longer just ajar. It is wide open. With Germany facing a demanding run of UEFA Nations League fixtures against the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia, the opportunity for El Mala to finally make his debut is real and immediate.
From 3. Liga to the national team
The speed of his ascent has been staggering. Just 16 months ago, El Mala was playing for Viktoria Köln in the 3. Liga. Now he is preparing to join up with a Germany squad rebooted under one of the most influential coaches of his generation.
His impact at FC Cologne has driven that leap. Last season, he dragged the club to Bundesliga survival with 13 goals, turning tight, anxious games into lifelines. Those performances lit up scouting reports across Europe. Brighton, Brentford, and Borussia Dortmund all circled in the summer, sensing a chance to steal a rising star.
El Mala chose a different route. He stayed put, signed a new deal through 2031, and took on the number 10 shirt once worn by Lukas Podolski. That number carries weight in Cologne. He did not flinch. On the opening day of the season against Hoffenheim, he scored.
That kind of form travels. It clearly landed with Klopp and his staff, who have moved quickly to bring him into the fold.
One more stop before the big stage
Before he joins up with Germany, there is one more job to do in club colours. El Mala has just shaken off a recent cold and returned to action with a substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to be back in Cologne’s starting XI for Saturday’s away trip to Hamburg.
For the forward, it is the perfect runway. Another sharp display, another goal, and he will arrive at the national team camp not as a prospect, but as a player in full flow.
From 3. Liga to the Bundesliga, from Viktoria Köln to a Germany squad under Klopp, El Mala has met every step with the same response: he delivers. Now the question is simple. How far can this story go once he pulls on the national shirt for the first time?
