In a surprising turn of events, Germany’s national football team has unveiled Julian Nagelsmann as their new head coach, replacing the recently sacked Hansi Flick. This announcement comes just nine months before Germany is set to host the European Championship, as revealed by the German Football Association (DFB) on Friday.
Julian Nagelsmann, the former Bayern Munich boss, has inked a contract that will see him at the helm until the conclusion of July 2024. This strategic timing allows the 36-year-old tactician to depart after the highly anticipated Euro 2024 tournament.
Addressing the media, Nagelsmann expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying, “We have a European Championship in our own country — that’s something special. I have a great desire to take on this challenge.”
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf praised Nagelsmann as “an outstanding coach” and expressed confidence in his ability to inspire both the team’s supporters and ensure a successful sporting performance at the Euros.
Hansi Flick, the former coach, made history as the first German national team coach to be dismissed from his position earlier this month. His tenure was marred by disappointing results, with just four victories in 17 matches and a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Flick’s fate was sealed following a humiliating 4-1 loss to Japan in a friendly match held in Wolfsburg in early September.
Julian Nagelsmann’s return to the coaching scene follows his departure from Bayern Munich in March. Widely regarded as a rising star in the world of football management, Nagelsmann had previously enjoyed successful stints at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig.
During the summer, Nagelsmann’s name was consistently linked with several top club vacancies, including English sides Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Paris Saint-Germain.
In the interim period following Flick’s dismissal, DFB sporting director Rudi Voeller took charge of the national team for a one-off basis, overseeing Germany’s triumphant 2-1 victory against France in Dortmund. Voeller emphasized that his primary objective was to identify a permanent successor to lead the national team.
Nagelsmann, commenting on the victory over France, remarked that it marked “the beginning” of the team’s journey towards Euro 2024. Football enthusiasts worldwide will be eagerly anticipating the impact of this coaching transition on Germany’s performance in the upcoming European Championship, hosted in their own backyard.
