Dream job or nightmare

Maybe, who knows, it will be a lavish birthday celebration on July 23rd next year. On this day, Julian Nagelsmann will be 37 years old and, it is hoped by the German Football Association (DFB), he will have become European champion eight days earlier. Partying through would therefore be desirable. Nobody would object. 28 years later he could then retire as a national coach if he stayed with the largest sports association in the world until then, which probably won't be the case. Nagelsmann is hoping for a further career boost through this initially temporary job as Germany's top football teacher. National coach Nagelsmann.

We have to be honest and admit that this is still hard to believe. You think of Sepp Herberger, of Helmut Schön, the coach with the hat. Then there are Jupp Derwall, Erich Ribbeck and Joachim Löw. Even Jürgen Klinsmann was allowed to take part and Hansi Flick for a short time because he won the treble with FC Bayern Munich. And of course Berti Vogts, Rudi Völler and the player-coach world champion Franz Beckenbauer. However the successes of these national coaches are to be classified: they were big names, respected people, at least from the outside. For us, for the fans.

Hansi Flick was fired. © APA/afp / RONNY HARTMANN

They all had their merits before they got the job at the DFB. Now Bernd Neuendorf, the president of the association, has pulled a “youngster” out of the hat in Nagelsmann. The new guy is 36 years old, many of his age are still active or just slightly younger. As a professional coach, he has worked at TSG Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich, although his importance in the football business was primarily influenced by his move from Saxony to Bavaria for a transfer fee. Of course he became German champion in Munich, but any other coach would probably have achieved that too. He wasn't able to demonstrate his skills as a coach on the Isar for long. He was released early and remained on Bayern's payroll without having to provide anything in return.

Magath also wanted the job Seen like that, he was on the market, as the saying goes. He was available and the people of Munich were probably happy that he was no longer a pointless burden on their budget. Away with it. The association, which is currently not exactly a bed of roses financially for a variety of reasons, took action and rewarded Nagelsmann with a rumored 400.000 euros. As a coach who only has to put together a selection and is therefore not on the training pitch every day, you can make a living from that. Especially since this sum will probably be transferred to the interim trainer's account every month. But in the end it was probably not about the pecuniary component. One, the DFB, was looking, the other, Nagelsmann, could wait in peace, keep quiet or go hiking in South Tyrol (in April).

Felix Magath wanted to become a national coach. © APA/afp / JOHN MACDOUGALL

Maybe he even laughed up his sleeve for a moment because Felix Magath (70), for example, offered himself like sour beer almost every day, which of course also expressed once again that the job of a national football coach in Germany and also in many other countries is definitely seen as an accolade. Magath would have liked that. He feels the same way as we do: In our understanding, this is the highest sporting position that can be awarded. Across sports. Anyone who gets this job has made it in life. It's basically a dream that is coming true, which of course can also turn into a nightmare for Julian Nagelsmann.

Intensive observation Of course, he is now under even more scrutiny than before at his clubs. It's a completely different job. He has to reconcile, fix, select, moderate. He has to introduce himself to his colleagues at the clubs, whereby he meets a coach, Thomas Tuchel, under whom he was an assistant in the FC Augsburg second team. If he's smart, he'll also listen to what coaching icons like Christian Streich (FC Freiburg) or Frank Schmidt (FC Heidenheim) have to say. And he should have an intensive exchange with Rudi Völler. Julian Nagelsmann thus has numerous opportunities to expand his knowledge while he is national coach. This is also a gift.

At the moment he is enjoying a lot of advance praise, even from renowned colleagues like Jürgen Klopp, although every one of his future personnel decisions will probably be accompanied by a huge media response. Does he rely on the Bayern axis? Is he trying to make serious changes to the DFB selection in the short amount of time he has? What tactical route does he set? Whatever the new national coach decides: he will never be able to please everyone. After all, he already gained experience in this regard at FC Bayern. And he only has one chance in the next ten months - and this makes his commitment almost a gamble: he has to win games in the preparatory games for the European Championships (thankfully Germany has qualified as hosts) and then start another summer fairytale during the title fights . It is a Herculean task that lies ahead of him. But also an exciting one that many of his colleagues may even envy.

About the author: Sigi Heinrich

The award-winning sports journalist, author and Eurosport commentator devotes his column “Sigi's Peaks” to the entire diversity of sport. Sometimes with a smile and a wink, sometimes seriously or deliberately provocative. There should be something for everyone.

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Dream job or nightmare

The highly coveted highest job in German football (national coach) was awarded to the 36-year-old Julian Nagelsmann as the successor to the failed Hansi Flick. For our columnist Sigi Heinrich, it is a courageous decision on all sides that offers a great opportunity, but is also not without risk.

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