A meeting between the German FA, Julian Nagelsmann and his advisors saw the 36-year-old agree, in principle, to take over as Germany manager on Tuesday.
Some details are yet to be resolved but the former Bayern Munich manager will give up a big chunk of money that would have been due to him under his €7million per annum contract with the German champions, which was supposed to run until 2027. The financially troubled German FA can only pay about €4m for his 10-month stint.
Nagelsmann’s short-term engagement until the end of Euro 2024 saves sporting director Rudi Voller from stepping into the breach once more. But it throws up plenty of questions, too. Chiefly among them is this one: who will come in after?
Nagelsmann will have to live with the curious situation that speculation about his successor will start before he’s even set foot through the door at the German FA’s headquarters in Frankfurt. The 36-year-old wanted it that way, however.
Whereas the association would have preferred to sign him until after the World Cup in 2026, Nagelsmann sees himself as a glorified “Feuerwehrmann” (fire fighter), helping the country out before his inevitable return to club football. According to a source familiar with the deal, who asked to remain anonymous when discussing confidential contracts, there’s no option to extend his contract with the FA beyond next year’s tournament on home soil.
The need to appoint another Bundestrainer in 10 months, at the latest, will redouble German FA vice chairman and Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke’s efforts to get Jurgen Klopp in. The Swabian has long been Watzke’s preferred option and unlike in March 2021, when Joachim Low’s announcement of resignation after the delayed 2020 Euros ushered, the timelines might aline better.
It could still produce an uncomfortable situation for both the Liverpool coach and his club though. Klopp will be the name on everyone’s lips in Germany for months on end until he publicly comes out one way or the other. And even if he does eventually rule himself out, not everyone will believe it.
Klopp’s agent Marc Kosicke said last week that his client “has a long-term contract with Liverpool (until 2026) and is not available for the national coaching position”, and the club are understood to be relaxed about the situation.
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They have certainly never been given any reason to believe he would not stay for the full duration of that deal. Having initially intended to have a sabbatical in 2024, Klopp signed an extension in April 2022 because he felt a duty to oversee the rebuild of the squad which he knew was on the horizon. After the struggles of last season, he has looked re-energised in recent months and is excited about what can be achieved with his new-look team.
It is not that the job doesn’t appeal. Earlier this summer, when asked about the job by Sky Germany, he said: “The job of national coach is and would be a great honour – there’s no question about that. The problem that stands in the way of the whole thing is my loyalty.
“I can’t just leave Liverpool now and say I’ll take over Germany for a short time. That doesn’t work and the request isn’t even there. If I’m supposed to do that at some point, then I have to be available and I’m not currently. I have a responsibility towards the club.
“Basically, it’s an interesting job. But I don’t know yet whether I’ll do something completely different after I leave Liverpool. I want to keep my options open.”
Jurgen Klopp has been energised at Liverpool (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The best case scenario for Liverpool may end up being a season of constant noise. And if Klopp does surprise Anfield by walking away next summer, FSG won’t take much solace from the fact that in Nagelsmann, there would at least be one high profile option available to them.
As for Nagelsmann, the onus will be on him to show that he can learn the lessons of his premature exit in Munich. Bayern players craved more tactical clarity, firmer man-management and a closer emotional bond.
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The first point seems especially pressing in a national team context, where meaningful training sessions can be counted on the fingers on one hand between tournaments. After Germany’s 2-1 win over France, players praised Voller and his coaching team for keeping things simple. Nagelsmann will have to curb his interventionist instincts a little.
A better connection with his players could come courtesy of clever appointments for his coaching staff. Nagelsmann can call upon trusted video analyst Benjamin Gluck and assistant coach Xaver Zembrod from his days in Bavaria but his former No 2, Dino Toppmoller, is now head coach at Eintracht Frankfurt, which necessitates bringing in a new face.
While Nagelsmann’s appointment will be welcomed by Bayern midfielders Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, who both got on well with him, Manuel Neuer might be less excited about today’s news. The 37-year-old clashed with Nagelsmann over his firing of goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic in January, at a time when Neuer was recovering from a broken leg. It will be interesting to see how the new Germany manager will handle this delicate subject if and when Neuer is ready to play again.
In the meantime, however, the German FA should be pleased with their appointment. Nagelsmann was the outstanding contender from day one and easily the best German coach on the market. They managed to get him.
(Top photo: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
