Julian Nagelsmann has signed a contract extension to remain Germany’s coach until the end of Euro 2028, the German FA announced on Friday.
Nagelsmann stated that his experience at Euro 2024, hosted by Germany, convinced him to stay on for both the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Euros.
“We are on the right path, and it is not over yet. We want to continue to develop. We want to win titles,” the 37-year-old said in a statement.
Nagelsmann signed the extension in Leipzig on Friday as part of the DFB’s 125-year anniversary celebrations.
The former Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig coach initially took over in 2023 on a short-term basis for Euro 2024. In April 2024, shortly before the tournament, he extended his deal to include the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Now, he will also remain in charge for Euro 2028, set to be hosted by Britain and Ireland.
As the second-youngest men’s head coach in Germany’s history, Nagelsmann inherited a team struggling after a difficult period. Germany were eliminated in the group stages of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and lost to England in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
Hansi Flick, Nagelsmann’s predecessor, became the first national team coach in Germany’s history to be sacked following the World Cup in Qatar.
At the club level, Nagelsmann became the youngest coach in Bundesliga history when he took over Hoffenheim at the age of 28 in 2016. He later managed RB Leipzig before signing with Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga in 2021-22 but was unexpectedly sacked in March 2023.
Germany showed signs of revival under Nagelsmann during Euro 2024, winning their group before losing in extra time to eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals.
“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 said.
In the Nations League, Germany have reached the knockout phase for the first time and are set to face Italy in a two-legged quarter-final in March.
Nagelsmann’s contract extension ends speculation that the in-demand coach would return to club football after the 2026 World Cup. It also means Jurgen Klopp will have to wait for the national team job, a role he has been linked with following his departure from Liverpool last year.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf described Nagelsmann’s decision to stay as a “significant signal” for the future of German football.
AFP