Germany men’s national team coach Julian Nagelsmann reportedly took some convincing to resign following a Round of 32 exit at the hands of Paraguay at the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
From a report prior to the Nagelsmann’s resignation in Sport1, captured via @iMiaSanMia:
The people in charge at the DFB are trying to convince Julian Nagelsmann to resign and quit on his own, arguing that it would improve his public image instead of being dismissed. In fact, the financial aspect weighs heavily on the DFB. Due
to the early exit, they’ve missed out on several millions in FIFA prize money. Nagelsmann could pocket around €14m (two years’ salary) if he’s sacked. It’s possible that both parties would compromise in case of a voluntary resignation, which would save the DFB much needed millions [@SPORT1]
BFW Commentary
It happened eventually but it sure was ugly and drawn out. Nobody came out looking too good in this.
The DFB evidently moved too hastily to extend Julian Nagelsmann in the first place after EURO 2024. At the time, it was understandable: a feel-good tournament on home soil, a tight and heart-breaking loss with cause for grievance to eventual winners Spain. Nagelsmann looked like he was bringing Germany back.
But it was another false dawn, and the DFB perhaps should have been warier. It should certainly be wary now, although the present approach could perhaps be better described as desperation than caution: handing the kings of the kingdom and then some to Jürgen Klopp, who might well cost a pretty penny, while apparently begging to salvage some money from the last bad deal.
And for Nagelsmann? Luis Enrique, a fine coach in his own right who has won the last two editions of the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, stepped down after Spain’s exit at the 2022 World Cup, a Round of 16 penalty shootout dismissal to Morocco. Spain rolled on, won the EUROs two years later, and have been strong contenders again this year. For Nagelsmann to want to continue his project is understandable, but — especially after how this played out for Germany after their own disasters of 2018 and 2022 — it looks like there was a better example to follow.
And that the thought process is now apparently public: is it good for Nagelsmann’s image? Or it have been better to stick to his guns, insist on being the right man for the job, and forcing the DFB to fire him if they wanted to go another way?
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