Julian NagelsmannAFP
Published 04/19/2024 12:30 | Updated 04/19/2024 12:30
Germany – Coach Julian Nagelsmann, of the Germany national team, extended his contract this Friday for two years, guaranteeing his presence in charge of the national team until the 2026 World Cup. With the agreement, the coach ruled out returning to Bayern Munich, which is looking for a coach for the next European season.
Nagelsmann was the favorite to take over at Bayern following Xabi Alonso’s decision to stay at surprise Bayer Leverkusen, who won this season’s German title. The Munich team is looking for a new coach after deciding to end its relationship with Thomas Tuchel at the end of this season.
The German football federation announced that its supervisory board and management board have unanimously decided to keep Nagelsmann in charge of the national team after this year’s European Championship. Initially, the coach’s relationship with the national team would end at the end of the continental competition.
“He is on the wish list of many big clubs in Europe,” federation president Bernd Neuendorf said of Nagelsmann. Despite being 36 years old and having little experience in charge of national teams, the coach managed to change the atmosphere in Germany, after repeated failures in major competitions in recent years. He had replaced Hansi Flick.
Nagelsmann said remaining in charge of Germany was “a decision of the heart”. “It’s a great honor to be able to coach the national team and work with the best players in the country,” he declared.
Bayern had fired Nagelsmann in favor of Tuchel in March 2023. Bayern were German champions last season, but only on goal difference, after Tuchel’s difficult start in charge of the team. This season, Bayern failed to win the title for the first time since 2012 after Bayer Leverkusen won their first title last Sunday.
Tuchel’s side are still in contention for the Champions League semi-finals after beating Arsenal in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
