JULIAN NAGELSMANN TURNS 37 in late July and it would be fair to assume that the Germany manager never would have envisaged himself being here at this stage of his career.
Not because it was beyond his wildest dreams. Rather his ambitions extended beyond leading his country at a home European Championships less than a decade on from when he became the youngest Bundesliga boss in history at the age of 28.
Nagelsmann would have had a different idea of how things might pan out then.
For context, winger Leroy Sane in Germany’s current squad is the same age now.
Nagelsmann was appointed manager at TSG Hoffenheim just after the midway stage of the 2015/16 campaign. His influence was immediate.
They avoided relegation and qualified for the Champions League the following season.
He was perhaps the embodiment of Das Reboot, a wunderkind of German coaching who was breaking boundaries as well as records. And that is the only way his achievements could be framed.
At 31, he was the youngest coach in the history of the Champions League, to win a game in the competition, and to reach the knockouts.
He wore bomber jackets and suede on the touchline and seemed to have a velvet touch with tactics and in-game management.
That is why Leipzig poached him and when he led them to runners-up spot in the Bundesliga and a Champions League semi-final in 2020 – losing to Thomas Tuchel’s Paris Saint-Germain – his star only rose.
Bayern Munich paid what was reported at the time to be a world-record fee of between €20-25 million to make him their manager in 2021.
Yet, three years later he is an international boss.
That is not the expected career arc.
Nagelsmann won the Bundesliga with Bayern in his first season but was sacked during the next one.
The momentum behind his career halted, and it was only Hansi Flick’s disastrous management of Germany at the 2022 World Cup, in which they failed to get out of the group, followed by a 4-1 friendly defeat to Japan, that led to the German Football Association sending him an SOS.
As the figure head of the international team, he has also had to speak out on issues of far greater importance.
When one public broadcaster ran a survey in the build up to this Euros that asked if they would prefer to see more white players in the Germany squad, Nagelsmann and midfielder Joshua Kimmich both condemned it.
“It is racist. I feel we need to wake up. Many people in Europe had to flee.. searching for a safe country,” Nagelsmann said.
“Josh [Kimmich] responded really well, with a very clear and thought-out statement. I see this in exactly the same way. This question is insane.”
That is just one personal element that forms the backdrop to these championships.
From a professional point of view, the next month also offer Nagelsmann a platform to remind clubs of the influence he is capable of having on a team – and country – that demands success.
The managers in charge of countries with expectations of lifting the trophy in Berlin on 14 July all have contrasting profiles and experiences but one thing in common: none have done so while in charge.
Didier Deschamps, of course, captained France to glory in 2000 and has achieved tremendous success since taking the reins 12 years later. Les Blues became world champions under his watch but a Euros has so far eluded the boss who has become the Godfather of the international game.
Yet Deschamps is still only 55 and it would be fascinating to see how the former Monaco, Juventus and Marseille boss might fare were he re-introduced to the wilds of the club game.
It is where Nagelsmann, even with a contract extension to take him to the next World Cup, surely sees his future.
So, too, Gareth Southgate.
He admitted in the build up to this tournament that unless he guides England to the title it may very well be his last in charge of his country. It’s hard to see the 53-year-old do the international circuit in the same way Roberto Martinez has with Belgium and Portugal since his once burgeoning Premier League career ended after winning the FA Cup with Wigan Athletic and taking Everton into Europe.
Southgate’s success at England has been borne from an ability to make players and fans connect with their international team. It has come from an innate understanding of the psyche, of realising what needed to change to make it a place where rivals could assimilate under one cause rather than any overarching philosophy or awe-inspiring style of play.
That in itself – not to mention reaching the final of Euro 2020 and 2018 World Cup semi-final – is an achievement that makes his popularity among some of the hierarchy at Manchester United understandable.
Southgate got a grip of a toxic culture and squeezed out the self-involved sense of entitlement.
And should his decision to trust youth in Germany be vindicated, it may yet be the perfect interview for the United job if Erik ten Hag’s stay of execution at Old Trafford turns out to be short-lived.
Just like Nagelsmann could not have envisaged he would be his country’s manager at this stage of his career, nor could Southgate when he was put in charge of England’s U21s after an uninspiring spell at the helm of Middlesbrough.
He became a company man, though, rising through the ranks in a way which Spain boss Luis de la Fuente can relate.
The 63-year-old was manager of Alaves in 2011 before entering the Spanish federation. He guided Spain’s U19s and U21s to European titles and the U23s to an Olympic silver medal.
After a decade at youth level, he has the job he has no doubt craved.
Unlike Italy’s Luciano Spaletti, who answered his country’s call when Roberto Mancini was tempted away by Saudi Arabia and after he experienced the sensational euphoria of being the man who won the Serie A title for Napoli in 2022/23, this feels like the pinnacle for the Spaniard.
All of them, of course, want to be the one that triumphs but Nagelsmann, perhaps more than most, has other peaks still to scale.
Always willing to work hard for the cause.
Still the Goat Jonny.
Fact. It was the reason why Rice changed his allegiance. No brainer.Hard to blame him. Archaic set up with a coach that was effin and blindin. St George’s park? Or a a field next to a hotel?
I’m sure some journalists will use this to say “it was the atmosphere that caused rice to defect”.
Great servant. But he was as English as Declan rice to be fair
@Cryptoalcho: obviously not, doh!
@Aidan Prior: if he had been good enough to get a call up for England, he would have chose England to play with
@Cryptoalcho: I’m fairly sure Walters has an Irish parent where as Rice doesn’t, so not the same at all.
@The Bloody Nine: Correct. Walters’ Mum was from Dublin. Rice’s Ireland qualifications were through having grandparents from Cork.
@Cryptoalcho: have a look at the clip on the article
@Cryptoalcho: never even listened to the clip i betya
@James Clancy: Douglas, I think.
@samstheman: Arah lads. U think if England came calling he would have chose Ireland….. Tut tut
@Cryptoalcho: Yes, obviously ya dope!
@Cryptoalcho: trolling much? He already mentioned above, anytime he wasn’t in school, he was in ireland seeing family, therefore felt Irish first and foremost. There are many, many 2nd gen lads brought up that way in england. Fai should concentrate on them instead of wasting their scarce resources on chasing 3rd generation rats like rice and Grealish, whose heart was never really in it from the outset
@Facundo: true. But how do we differentiate between lads who want to play for Ireland and want to play for England?…. I’m sure rice and grealish were saying they’d play for ireland seniors while playing underage.. first sniff from England and they’re gone…. Maybe they should just focus on Irish born players for underage only.. I still haven’t heard anything that would change my mind that Walters would be playing England instead Ireland if England came sniffing… Financially it makes sense and tbh all them lads Born in England probably want to be play for England. Irelands plan B
@Cryptoalcho: you’ve a lot to say about this topic. You’ve made your opinion clear. I’m watching Switzerland vs Georgia while I type this . We need all the help we can get. But let me ask you your opinion on Éamon Zayed playing for Ireland at youth level but then playing for lybia. What’s your take on this ? And what do you think the Libyans are saying about it ?
@Cryptoalcho: well sure, Irish born would be ideal, but until irish fans and fai get more proactive about financially supporting their own teams, leagues and structures, instead of bankrolling englands…. then 2nd and 3rd gen was always be default first option. 2nd generation os a safe bet, if they’ve been going to Ireland all their life then it’s safe to say they will probably want to play for ireland… Like those dublin born lads in Ireland underage who will probably jump at the chance to play for Nigeria first opportunity they get. Identity is where the heart is
@Facundo: there is still a crop of Irish born decent footballers who would gain copious amounts of experience if they are given the jersey instead of turncoats…. Let them get the expierence and let the lads who qualify for us under “the granny” rule come at senior level. Develop the youth we have here and they may get the opportunity to progress in life and career
@Ronan McDermott: he played the system well for himself
@Cryptoalcho: and what do you think the lybian football fans are saying about it ? In fact are you not horrified by this ?
Keane a thug