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The question of how long Julian Nagelsmann will remain national coach remains open. Rudi Völler has already hinted at a possible successor.
Frankfurt – Julian Nagelsmann is celebrating his one-year anniversary today. Exactly one year ago, the 37-year-old was introduced by the German Football Association (DFB) as the national coach of the German national team.
The DFB and Nagelsmann: A success story
Over the past twelve months, Nagelsmann, who previously worked in the Bundesliga for 1899 Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and FC Bayern, has reshaped the national team. Hansi Flick’s successor has given the team a new face, relies on bold attacking football and, together with the DFB team, has triggered a wave of enthusiasm ahead of the European Championship at home.
Before the tournament, Nagelsmann extended his contract until 2026 and thus decided against a return to FC Bayern, which had been considering the coach who was fired in March 2023. In the following months, it was reported that Nagelsmann would vacate his post after the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA and return to club football.
Völler is already thinking about Nagelsmann’s successor
It is unclear whether this will actually happen. Rudi Völler, who spoke on Saturday evening in the “Aktuelles Sportstudio” of the ZDF confirmed that he will step down as DFB sports director in 2026, but already spoke to the TV station about a potential successor on the coaching bench.
“If Julian Nagelsmann were to decide at some point that he would rather coach a top club in Europe or Germany again, then of course there is no way around Jürgen Klopp. If that’s what he wants, then that’s clear,” said Völler.
Rudi Völler is thinking about the future direction of the national team © IMAGO/Gladys Chai von der Laage
After the end of last season, Jürgen Klopp resigned as head coach of Liverpool FC. The 57-year-old, who had already been linked with the DFB in the past, decided to take this step in January and at the same time announced that he would take a break for at least a year.
Klopp, who attended Jakub Błaszczykowski and Łukasz Piszczek’s farewell match at Borussia Dortmund two weeks ago, does not give the impression that he wants to return to the football stage immediately. However, there would be enough time until the end of the 2026 World Cup to gather new energy – and for possible discussions with those responsible at the DFB.
Wagner remains Nagelsmann’s assistant coach
While a possible involvement of Klopp is speculative, Völler provided further facts regarding the coaching staff. Assistant coach Sandro Wagner, who has aroused interest on the market in recent months and was discussed with TSG Hoffenheim, among others, will continue to assist Nagelsmann in the future.
“I was in contact with him and we talked about it. We clearly agreed and also coordinated with him that he would stay with us until the World Cup,” Völler said of Wagner. The former striker moved to the DFB as assistant coach of the U20 national team in July 2023 and has been part of the senior coaching staff since Flick’s dismissal.
