Nagelsmann takes over as Germany head coach

Berlin, Germany | Xinhua | After the dismissal of Hansi Flick, former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann has been appointed as the new head coach of the German national team, the German FA (DFB) announced in an official press conference on Friday.

The 36-year-old former Hoffenheim, Leipzig and Bayern coach has put pen to paper on a deal until June 2024 and will lead the team into the UEFA EURO 2024. Nagelsmann will coach the national team alongside his assistants Benjamin Gluck and Sandro Wagner.

“The European Championship next year is of enormous importance,” said DFB president Bernd Neuendorf. “We are convinced that Julian Nagelsmann, as national coach, will ensure that the national team inspires its fans and that the EURO is also a sporting success.”

“Julian Nagelsmann is an outstanding trainer who approaches his new task with the highest level of motivation. We will all now focus on the tournament next summer and support Julian Nagelsmann as best we can”.

The German national team will face the U.S. national team on October 14 before they clash with Mexico later for another international friendly. Germany’s last test match before the EURO will be held against Austria on November 21.

“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 am very keen to take on this challenge. The appearance in Dortmund was the beginning. We will be a close-knit bunch in the coming year,” said Nagelsmann.

Nagelsmann was the youngest head coach in the history of the Bundesliga as he took the reins at Hoffenheim at the age of 28 in 2016. He led Hoffenheim and Leipzig into the UEFA Champions League and was able to lift the German championship with Bayern Munich in 2022. After 84 matches at the sidelines, Nagelsmann was sacked in March 2023 despite an average of 2.31 points per game.

“Julian Nagelsmann was our desired candidate as national coach. With his qualities and personality, Julian Nagelsmann will make a crucial contribution to ensuring that we can all experience a great European Championship in our own country in the summer,” said DFB sporting director Rudi Voller.

Nagelsmann’s first competitive cap with the “Nationalmannschaft” will be at the curtain raiser of the EURO 2024 at the Allianz Arena on June 14.