Julian Nagelsmann Takes Helm as Germany’s Interim National Team Coach

Former Bayern Munich manager, Julian Nagelsmann, has been named the interim head coach of Germany’s national football team. The 36-year-old becomes the youngest coach of the four-time World Cup-winning nation since Jurgen Klinsmann, who took charge at the age of 39 in 2004, as reported by Xinhua.

Nagelsmann is set to lead the team until the conclusion of UEFA Euro 2024, which will take place next July.

This decision follows Hansi Flick’s departure from the Germany role after 25 games in charge. Flick left the position due to several disappointing results in friendly matches, following Germany’s early exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

In a recent friendly against France, former Germany striker Rudi Voller temporarily managed the team, leading them to a 2-1 victory.

Nagelsmann has agreed to a fixed-term contract with Germany, with plans to return to club management next summer. There are reports suggesting that his contract with Bayern Munich, initially set to run until 2026, has been terminated without further compensation demands from the club.

Nagelsmann’s monthly salary with the German national team is reported to be 400,000 euros.

In 2021, Nagelsmann left RB Leipzig to join Bayern Munich, making him the world’s most expensive manager with a compensation fee of 25 million euros paid by Bayern to RB Leipzig.

However, in March 2023, Nagelsmann was sacked by Bayern, and former Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel took over his role.

While Jurgen Klopp was reportedly the preferred candidate for the German Football Association, he was not available. This led to several former German internationals, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, and Michael Ballack, advocating for Dutch football legend Louis van Gaal as Germany’s next coach.

Nagelsmann’s short-term appointment suggests that the German association may still hope to secure Klopp on a long-term contract after Euro 2024.

Nagelsmann faces a challenging task with limited time as there are only a few friendlies scheduled before the tournament begins in June next year. Germany is set to play against the USA, Mexico, Austria, and Turkey in the coming months.

The national team’s performance is a concern, with several positions remaining unsettled. Additionally, the relationship between Nagelsmann and players like Thomas Muller appears to be complicated, following tactical differences during Nagelsmann’s tenure at Bayern Munich.

Nagelsmann’s new role presents an opportunity for him to rebuild his reputation after his dismissal from Bayern. Before joining Bayern, he was considered a rising star in German coaching. Restoring joy to German football fans may require a significant turnaround under his leadership.