Nagelsmann extends Germany coaching role until Euro 2028
The German Football Association (DFB) announced on Friday that Julian Nagelsmann has signed a contract extension to remain Germany’s head coach until the conclusion of Euro 2028.
Nagelsmann, who initially joined in 2023 on a short-term basis for Euro 2024, expressed his commitment to leading the team through the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 European Championship.
“We are on the right path, and it is not over yet. We want to continue developing and aim to win titles,” the 37-year-old said.
The announcement was made during the DFB’s 125-year anniversary celebrations in Leipzig.
Nagelsmann stepped into the role following a challenging period for Germany. The four-time World Cup winners suffered group-stage exits in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and were eliminated by England in the Euro 2020 round of 16.
Hansi Flick, who preceded Nagelsmann, was dismissed after Germany’s disappointing performance in Qatar, becoming the first national team coach to be sacked in DFB history.
Under Nagelsmann’s leadership, Germany showed significant improvement at Euro 2024, winning their group before losing to eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals.
“Our goal was a successful tournament, but I could not have imagined back then how much the national team means to Germany, how many hearts it reaches, and how deeply it moves people,” Nagelsmann said.
Nagelsmann, the second-youngest men’s head coach in Germany’s history, has a track record of breaking barriers. At 28, he became the youngest coach in Bundesliga history with Hoffenheim in 2016. After moving to RB Leipzig three years later, he earned a high-profile role at Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga title in 2021-22. He was surprisingly dismissed in March 2023.
Despite speculation that Nagelsmann might return to club football after the 2026 World Cup, his extension with the DFB signals a long-term commitment.
Germany has already qualified for the Nations League knockout phase for the first time and will face Italy in a two-legged quarter-final in March.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf praised Nagelsmann’s decision to remain, calling it a “significant signal” for the future of German football.
Nagelsmann’s extension also means that Jurgen Klopp, often linked with the national team role, will have to wait for the opportunity after leaving Liverpool last year.
Germany now looks to build on the momentum under Nagelsmann’s leadership, targeting success at the 2026 World Cup and beyond.
(Source: AFP)
