The German Football Federation (DFB) announced Julian Nagelsmann as the next coach of the German national team on Friday.
The former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich coach will take over for Hansi Flick and will be in charge until the Euro 2024 event on home soil.
Nagelsmann signed a contract extension until July 2024 and will be assisted by former Bayern Munich attacker Sandro Wagner.
“We have Euros in our country.” That’s something unique. “I am eager to take on this challenge,” Nagelsmann was quoted as saying in a DFB release.
Nagelsmann most recently coached German champions Bayern Munich, where he also succeeded Flick, but was fired in March after an inconsistent season by their standards.
He still had a contract with Bayern, but it had expired. According to rumours, the Bavarian club was eager to let Nagelsmann leave for free.
His first duty will be to play friendly games against the United States on October 14 in Hartford and Mexico three days later in Philadelphia.
The next coach must also work on a turnaround that has little time before hosts Germany plays the first match of the Euros on June 14, 2024 in Munich.
“The European championship next year is of enormous importance for the whole of football in Germany.
“We are convinced that Nagelsmann will ensure that the national team inspires its fans and that the Euros are also a sporting success,” DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said.
Flick was dismissed on Sept. 10 after just four wins in his last 17 games which included a second straight World Cup group stage exit and four defeats from the last five games without victory.
Germany then beat France 2-1 on September 12, with popular former Germany striker and coach Rudi Völler as caretaker but not ready to stay on for a longer period.
Völler, who is currently the Germany team director, was reportedly the driving force behind the appointment of Nagelsmann.
“Julian Nagelsmann was our preferred candidate from the start. Not only is he an absolute football expert.
“He has already proven in all his positions – at a very young age for a head coach – that he can motivate and inspire a team and the entire environment,” Völler said.