No going back to FC Bayern
“A great honor”: Julian Nagelsmmann will continue to coach the DFB team until 2026
It’s going into extra time for him: Julian Nagelsmann remains national coach
© Arne Dedert / DPA
He has reached an agreement with the DFB: Julian Nagelsmann will remain with the German national team as national coach even after the home European Championship. A door closes permanently for him for the time being.
Julian Nagelsmann will remain national coach beyond the home European Championship in the summer and will also lead the national soccer team to the next World Cup in two years in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The DFB was able to announce the success of the contract extension with the 36-year-old exactly 56 days before the European Championship opening game against Scotland on June 14th in Munich.
Nagelsmann will not be the club coach again after the home tournament in the summer and will therefore not return to the Bundesliga at FC Bayern Munich. At the German record champions, he was considered a hot candidate to succeed Thomas Tuchel, with whom Bayern ended their collaboration early at the end of the season.
“This is a decision of the heart,” said Nagelsmann in the DFB announcement on Friday. “It’s a great honor to be able to train the national team and work with the best players in the country. With successful, passionate performances we have the chance to inspire an entire country,” he said with a view to the European Championships.
“The two victories against France and the Netherlands in March gave a foretaste of this. I was very touched by the enthusiasm of the fans. Together we now want to play a successful home European Championship, we are all passionate about it. Afterwards, I am looking forward to it together with my coaching team really looking forward to the challenge of a World Cup,” Nagelsmann added.
DFB: “Absolutely convinced by Julian Nagelsmann”
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf spoke of having won Nagelsmann over as a “strong signal for the DFB and the national team”. “Because he is on the wish list of many big clubs across Europe.” Now there is “planning security and everyone can concentrate entirely on a successful performance at the European Championships”.
The DFB leadership has managed to establish overall continuity in the leadership of the national team in a short space of time. Just eleven days ago, the association extended the contract with national team director Rudi Völler until after the 2026 World Cup. The 64-year-old played a key role in guiding Nagelsmann to the DFB last September.
“We were already absolutely convinced of Julian Nagelsmann before the recent successful international matches. But they have shown once again what enthusiasm Julian and his team can rekindle in Germany. He is an outstanding coach, a tactical fox,” said Völler. With his passion he can “infect and inspire every player. He burns for the national team and for success.”
DFB
Triumphs, ridicule and flat caps: these were the national coaches from Nerz to Nagelsmann
After winning international matches in March against France (2-0) and the Netherlands (2-1), the DFB bosses had already confirmed their goal of a longer collaboration with Nagelsmann.
Change of mood in the DFB team
Nagelsmann succeeded Hansi Flick last fall. After a mediocre start, Nagelsmann managed to create a change in mood before the European Championships with a radical squad restructuring and the two big test match victories during Toni Kroos’s successful comeback in the national team. In addition to Scotland, the DFB team’s other group opponents are Hungary and Switzerland. Nagelsmann will start his preparations for the European Championship on May 26th with a training camp in Weimarer Land.
This post has been updated.