Who is Nagelsmann and what will he bring to Bayern?

Bayern Munich continues to destroy it’s direct opponents in the Bundesliga. After taking best players from Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, Monchengladbach, Wolfsburg and every club who a strong squad in the last 20 years, the Bavarians now took away Leipzig’s biggest asset: coach.

But, in case of Julian Nagelsmann, it was more than just business, the coach wanted to go to Bayern, years ago. As he started to manage serious clubs, he was thinking about managing Germany’s greatest football club one day. And he has Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff to confirm his story.

"Of course, this is not what we wanted, but Julian said he wants to fulfill his lifelong dream and become a coach at FC Bayern. When we brought him here from Hoffenheim, we discussed whether there were ways for him to get out of his contract. Joining FC Bayern was already a wish of his back then. I remember that conversation" Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff.

The 33-years old coach was born in a nearby town of Landsberg am Lech and played shortly for Bayern’s arch rivals, Minhen 1860. After his career ended soon due to injury, he started his career as a trainer, hoping that one day he would return to Munich, where his wife and kids are currently living. And the call came in 2021.

"After the game against Hoffenheim, I had a conversation with Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and received the first contact from Bayern. I explained my desire to switch to Bayern when the concrete offer came in. I didn't get the go-ahead right away, and everyone had to think it over. Then I focussed on the game against Stuttgart. On Sunday evening, I clarified the final details with Bayern. Yesterday, everything was sorted out. There was interest from other clubs, but I told Oli that I didn’t want to end our agreement for any other club - only for this one. The overall package is something special" said Nagelsmann.

The German is an interesting man. First of all, he is a record breaker, since he took over Hoffenheim when he was only 28-years old. He then made European history when he took Leipzig to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals shortly after his 33rd birthday (previous record holder is Didier Deschamp).

(©AFP)

He always says that Pep Gurdiola is his source of inspiration, but acknowledges Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as a major influence. The former Mainz and Dortmund coach was in Augsburg in 2007, coaching reserves and he actually gave Nagelsmann his first job, scouting opponents.

"He's a very inquisitive and very hardworking young coach. He enjoyed exceptional successes in youth football. I'm very happy for him and I believe in him" said Tuchel when Julian became coach of Hoffenheim.

His former club are one of the few clubs in the world to use the 'Footbonaut' to fine-tune their players' touch and control, but Nagelsmann took the use of technology in training even further. As well as using drones to film his squad's movement, he had a giant videowall installed on the halfway line of their main training pitch. He is expected to carry on with the same tradition in Bayern too.

One thing is sure with Nagelsmann, he will promote youth players and will not spend a lot of money in the tranfer market. He will benefit from Bayern’s wealth, and already a quality squad, but he is already accustomed to smaller budgets. The Bavarians have a number of experienced players who will pass their peak soon, and Julian will slowly introduce the younger generation, as he did in Leipzig.

It's official: Bayern Munich have a new coach!

The only week spot for Bayern has been the defense, and Nagelsmann is the master tactician. He tends to vary his tactics based on opponents and has experimented with the shapes of his teams. This allows for his side to stay flexible and specialize their defense to each opponent’s style of attack. Over Nagelsmann’s five seasons in charge of Bundesliga sides, he’s finished in the top half of the table in Goals Allowed in all but the 2017/2018 season. RB Leipzig are currently on pace to win the title of Defensive Team of the Year for this season. He will also try to implement his current 3-4-2-1 formation on Bayern, but he will surely make modifications during the season.

On paper, it looks Bayern looks set up for decades to come. In reality, the players will have to adapt and use Negelmann’s brilliant football mind in order to succeed.