The search for the next Bayern Munich manager has gone full circle. A recent report now suggests Julian Nagelsmann is once again the club’s top candidate to succeed Jupp Heynckes.
Back to square one. A recent report from Fussball News claims that Bayern Munich want Julian Nagelsmann as the man to replace Jupp Heynckes this summer. The club wishes to announce their new manager by the end of the month, and the report suggests that Bayern are trying to secure Nagelsmann’s signature immediately.
The 30-year-old Hoffenheim prodigy was rumored to be in contention for the Bayern job last October, after the club sacked Carlo Ancelotti. While Karl-Heinz Rummenigge preferred Thomas Tuchel, Bayern president Uli Hoeness backed Nagelsmann.
The two eventually agreed on Jupp Heynckes, though.
Having recently been turned down by Thomas Tuchel, the previous favorite for the managerial post, Bayern Munich are in a tough place.
Numerous reports emerged linking Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac with the job. The Croatian recently cooled those rumors himself, though, and no longer seems the most likely candidate.
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Julian Nagelsmann is one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe. He was handed the reins to Hoffenheim midway through the ’15-16 season. At the time of his appointment the club was 17th in the Bundesliga, apparently well on their way to relegation. Thanks to their young manager, the club narrowly remained in Germany’s top flight.
Last season was a marquee one for Nagelsmann and Hoffenheim. The German prodigy led his side to finish fourth in the Bundesliga, well above anyone’s expectations.
This season, though, Hoffenheim haven’t performed as well as many surely hoped. They failed to qualify for the Champions League and bowed out of the Europa League quite early.
They’ve also struggled in the Bundesliga, but to a lesser extent. Their inconsistency has caused them to drop to seventh in the league, three points behind Niko Kovac’s Frankfurt and ten points off second-placed Schalke.
Having lost numerous stars over the summer and winter transfer windows (three of whom joined Bayern), Nagelsmann is operating with an arguably weaker squad than the one at his disposal last season. It’s hard not to be a little disappointed with how this season has gone for Hoffenheim, but it’s also tough to tell how much of the blame falls on their coach.
Regardless of the validity of this report, Julian Nagelsmann presents a very intriguing option for Bayern Munich. He’s young, German-speaking, tactically sound and has an affinity for the club.
But the question must be asked: is Julian Nagelsmann ready to coach a team like Bayern Munich? After all, he struggled severely in his debut season in Europe, and he has little experience managing big egos like the ones at Bayern.
At 30-years-old, would Nagelsmann be able to earn the respect of Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Robert Lewandowski, etc.?
At the same time, though, is there really any better option available?
Thomas Tuchel has already committed to another club. Joachim Low is tied up with the German national team. And Jurgen Klopp looks committed to Liverpool. Mauricio Pochettino has had his name thrown into the mix, but that was always a long shot.
Maybe Nagelsmann is Bayern’s best option. The club is in a transitional phase anyway. As they look to usher in a new era of players and focus more on their youth, perhaps Nagelsmann is the exact man to help do just that.
Sure, his appointment may come a little earlier than many would have liked or hoped, but — given the dearth of talented managers within Bayern’s reach — giving him the opportunity now could be the smartest decision the club makes.
It’d be a risk for the club to place their trust in Nagelsmann’s hands, but a risk that could have a huge pay-off. Given his age, Nagelsmann has the potential to lead the club for years if things go as planned.
Next: The Bavarian Collective: What moves should Bayern make in the summer?
No matter who Bayern hire he will be looked at as a step down from Jupp Heynckes, so why not go ahead and take the risk with a young, exciting coach who could very well lead the club into a new era?