Julian Nagelsmann is a 35-year-old German football coach who is currently in demand as Tottenham Hotspur look to appoint a new manager. Nagelsmann was sacked by Bayern Munich in March, after a short time at the club, and quickly became a target for other clubs. He became the youngest coach in Bundesliga history at the age of 28 with Hoffenheim, whom he saved from relegation in a great-escape-type finish to the season. He took that team into the Champions League and was interviewed for the Arsenal job as Arsene Wenger’s replacement but the board thought appointing a 31-year-old for such a job was a step too far and he ended up at RB Leipzig, whom he took to a Champions League semi-final — he lost to Thomas Tuchel’s Paris Saint-Germain — and second in the Bundesliga.
Nagelsmann has always caught the eye, with his confident personality and distinctive appearance – he wears make-up to press conferences, idolises John Terry, arrives to training on his skateboard and leaves on his motorbike. As a Millennial coach, he should be the ideal man to relate to young players. However, there is just a hint of the intolerant hippy about him. He is obsessional and demanding about tactical discipline, with some Bayern players privately suggesting that he overcomplicates the game. He failed to gel with the squad at Bayern, falling out with veterans Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, who is older than the coach. And he never truly won over the Gen X players.
Nagelsmann’s admiration for English football is also well-known. He likes to focus on possession-dominant football with an intent to get the ball forward quickly. He wants short distances between the players because it allows for quick changes in ball possession, which sets the tone for counter-pressing. He only thinks about winning games, not avoiding mistakes. He wants to speed up the game when there is space and have some counter-attacks after ball possession. If they lose the ball, he wants them to be very aggressive in counter-pressing.
The availability of the vegetarian Nagelsmann is significant for Daniel Levy, following the exits of Antonio Conte. Nagelsmann was the man Levy wanted to replace Jose Mourinho in 2021, only to discover Bayern were well ahead of the game and had him tied for the following season. Now, he’s in the running to replace Potter at Chelsea – it’s understood that initial contact, through intermediaries, has already taken place, according to the Mail.
In summary, Julian Nagelsmann is a young and dynamic coach who has amassed a dazzling reputation for his tactical knowledge, obsession with the game and his unique personality. He is admired by many in the football world, and his availability is significant for Tottenham as they look to appoint a new manager. Whether Nagelsmann can succeed at Tottenham remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that he will bring his brand of football to the English game.
