The German Football Association (DFB) has announced that Julian Nagelsmann will remain as head coach of Germany’s national football team until the end of Euro 2028. The extension, confirmed on Friday, coincided with the DFB’s 125th-anniversary celebrations in Leipzig.
Nagelsmann, 37, initially took charge in 2023 on a short-term basis for Euro 2024 but extended his contract in April 2024 to include the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. His latest extension will see him lead Germany through the UEFA European Championship in 2028, hosted by Britain and Ireland.
Reflecting on his decision, Nagelsmann cited the positive experience of Euro 2024, held on home soil, as a key factor in his commitment to the team. “We are on the right path, and it is not over yet. We want to continue to develop. We want to win titles,” he said in a statement.
Reviving Germany’s National Team
Nagelsmann inherited a struggling German side that had been eliminated in the group stages of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and suffered a round-of-16 exit against England in Euro 2020. His predecessor, Hansi Flick, became the first German national coach to be sacked after the team’s disappointing performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Under Nagelsmann’s guidance, Germany displayed signs of resurgence at Euro 2024, winning their group before losing in extra time to eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals. The team has also progressed to the Nations League knockout phase for the first time and will face Italy in a two-legged quarter-final in March 2025.
“Our goal was a successful tournament, but I could not have imagined back then what the national team means to Germany, how many hearts it reaches and people it moves,” Nagelsmann stated.
A Promising Future
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf praised Nagelsmann’s decision to remain in charge, describing it as a “significant signal” for the future of German football. The move also ends speculation about Nagelsmann’s potential return to club management, a possibility many anticipated following the 2026 World Cup.
At 28, Nagelsmann became the youngest head coach in Bundesliga history when he took over Hoffenheim in 2016. He later managed RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, where he secured the Bundesliga title in the 2021–22 season before being dismissed in March 2023.
Nagelsmann’s decision means that Jurgen Klopp, long linked with the national team job, will have to wait for an opportunity following his departure from Liverpool last year.
Germany’s national team, aiming to rebuild its reputation on the international stage, will look to capitalize on Nagelsmann’s leadership as they target success in upcoming tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2028.
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