Before DFB commitment
Fired from FC Bayern in the spring, the second youngest national coach in DFB history in the early fall: According to consistent media reports, Julian Nagelsmann, after three Bundesliga positions, is about to join the association, where the 36-year-old will succeed national coach Hansi Flick, who was dismissed last week should. When he signs, the Landsberg native becomes the youngest current national coach in Europe – historically, only a few trainers in the world were younger at this level when they took office.
From Hareide to Tedesco: Europe’s national coaches by age
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said they were in “good discussions” with Nagelsmann on Tuesday afternoon the current status of the negotiations. The fact that Nagelsmann is seen as the desired solution by the management team in the search for a coach who will lead the recently troubled national team back on track and to the home European Championship in 2024 has become more and more concrete in the past few days.
The DFB bosses had previously reached an agreement in principle about the release with FC Bayern, where the ex-Hoffenheimer’s contract is still running. Apparently (initially) only a collaboration is planned until the tournament in Germany, which would mean that Nagelsmann would then be free on the market again.
In the history of German football, only Otto Nerz, aged 34, was younger than Nagelsmann when he took office in 1926. In this ranking, he ranks ahead of Franz Beckenbauer (38 on his debut), Jürgen Klinsmann (39) and Rudi Völler (40).
From an international perspective, few national coaches listed in the TM database also took up their job at a younger age – including Michel Platini, who took over the “Équipe Tricolore” around a year after ending his active career at Juventus at the age of 33 and between 1988 and 1992 looked after. After the European Championships in Sweden, where France failed in the group stage, it was over.
The Dutchman Frank Rijkaard also led the “Elftal” from the sidelines in 1998 at the age of 35 and was supposed to lead Oranje to European Championship triumph in their own country after their semi-final exit at the 1998 World Cup. However, his team around Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids and Co. failed again in the round of the last four to Italy.
Only one weaker than Flick: All national coaches based on average points
Among the current national coaches in Europe, Nagelsmann would be at the top in the age ranking. To date, former Schalke and Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco is the youngest national coach on the continent at 38 years old.
The native Italian took over the “Red Devils” in February of this year and has recorded five wins and one draw from six games since then. Only the former Bundesliga duo Tedesco/Nagelsmann would remain under the 40-year mark if the DFB were enforced compared to their European colleagues.
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