Coach Watch - Nagelsmann: from Bundesliga’s youngest head coach to Bayern boss

 

Julian Nagelsmann, who was appointed by Hoffenheim at the age of 28, became the Bundesliga's youngest ever head coach. To put things in perspective, José Mourinho was only 16 years old when he guided Porto to the Champions League title in 2004, and he was born in 1987, the same year Sir Alex Ferguson was named Manchester United manager.

Ralf Rangnick's pressing attitude inspired Nagelsmann considerably, and it was essential in RB Leipzig's recruitment of him from Hoffenheim in 2019. Thomas Tuchel, who was in charge of Augsburg's second team at the time Nagelsmann suffered the knee injury that ended his career at the age of 20, was also his coach. Before appointing him as the coach of 1860 Munich's under-17 team, Tuchel demanded that he begin scouting opponents.

Nagelsmann famously observed, "Thirty percent of coaching is methods, and seventy percent is social competency."