The DFB have announced that Julian Nagelsmann will replace Hansi Flick as Germany coach on a short-term deal ahead of the upcoming European Championship in Germany.
On being appointed the new Bundestrainer, Nagelsmann said: “We have a European Championship in our own country. This is something special – something that happens every few decades. I subordinate everything to the fact of having a great tournament in a great country. I have a great desire to accept this challenge. The performance in Dortmund was the beginning. We will be a sworn bunch next year.”
DFB sporting director, Rudi Völler also commented on the appointment of the former Bayern Munich coach: “Julian Nagelsmann was our desired candidate as national coach at the beginning of the search. He is not only an absolute football expert but has already proven at all his stations – in very young years for a head coach – that he can motivate and captivate a team and the entire environment. His fire for football is noticeable and contagious – as well as with his two assistant coaches Benjamin Glück and Sandro Wagner, whose great energy I was recently able to experience myself. Julian Nagelsmann, with his qualities and personality, will contribute decisively to the fact that we will all experience a great European Championship in our own country together in the summer.”
Nagelsmann once again replaces Flick, who was fired as Germany coach after a poor run of results not only in friendlies but also at the World Cup, where Germany were eliminated at the group stage. The 36-year-old’s first game in charge will be against the USA on the 14th October in Hartford (US) before another friendly a few days later against Mexico in Philidelphia.
Bayern are set to pay Nagelsmann €1.5m as a severance payment to cut short his contract at the club, which was still valid until 2026 despite his dismissal in March earlier this year.
The issue for the DFB is they have now postponed the inevitable of once again having to go through the procedure of trying to find a permanent option once Euro 2024 is over. It is widely known that the DFB dreams of having Jürgen Klopp as the Bundestrainer but his contract at Liverpool does not expire until 2026, so whoever takes charge after Nagelsmann will likely be seen as a stopgap until Klopp can be signed.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
