According to Julian Nagelsmann, his decision to extend his contract as national coach and not return to FC Bayern was not influenced by resentment against the record champions. “I checked my body yesterday and there was no stinger,” said the 36-year-old in an interview with Magenta TV published on Thursday. Nagelsmann was alluding to a statement by Bayern sports director Max Eberl. He also explained Nagelsmann’s rejection of a second engagement in Munich with the experiences of the separation in March 2023. “And at some point you just realized, okay, the sting from back then is still deep. The separation is still very fresh,” said Eberl on Sky last Saturday.
Nagelsmann wanted to contradict this impression in the “Best Cast” format with moderator Johannes B. Kerner. In most cases it is normal for the person being fired to want something different. “It’s probably the same with a player if I don’t nominate him. So there’s no thorn deep there,” said Nagelsmann. The decision in favor of the DFB was well thought out. “I handle it the same way as I do with all player nominations, when I select the first eleven and think about who is the right player for the game, what is the right composition – then I always choose one player and not against one players,” said the national coach. That’s how it was now: “I consciously decided to join the DFB.”
In addition to the home European Championship, the prospect of leading the national soccer team to the 2026 World Cup in America is also a great attraction. Nagelsmann had the previous week extended his contract, which expires in the summer, until the 2026 World Cup. The decision was preceded by weeks of discussions. Nagelsmann himself got the topic rolling with statements before the March international games in France (2:0) and against the Netherlands (2:1). “I didn’t just have Bayern Munich and the DFB – there were a few other clubs there. I also have a duty to weigh everything up. I always had a good feeling at the DFB and it was always one of my favorites,” said the 36-year-old. year olds.
Nagelsmann will be the youngest national coach to supervise the DFB team at a tournament. From a purely economic perspective, the decision should have been different, as Nagelsmann explained. “Everyone can imagine that you can earn more at the club. But that’s not my driving force. Of course, financial things are also important because I also have a responsibility, for my family, for myself, for my life. But if that If it were my main driving force, I would probably have ended up at the club sooner,” he said. Nagelsmann expressly did not rule out a return to FC Bayern at a later date. But his happiness in life does not depend on working for certain clubs.