Nagelsmann named coach of Euro 2024 hosts Germany

New coach of German national soccer team Julian Nagelsmann, center, president of German Football Federation Bernd Neuendorf, left, and sports director Rudi Moeller during a press conference in Frankfurt Friday. (AP)
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  • Germany fired Flick with the national team struggling, the German football association (DFB) fearing another embarrassing performance in a major tournament
  • Former Bayern Munich boss Nagelsmann has signed a deal until the end of next July, allowing the 36-year-old to leave after Euro 2024

MUNICH, Germany: Julian Nagelsmann has been given nine months to revive flailing Germany ahead of hosting Euro 2024 after being named as the sacked Hansi Flick鈥檚 successor as national team coach on Friday.
Germany fired Flick with the national team struggling, the German football association (DFB) fearing another embarrassing performance in a major tournament, this time as hosts at next year鈥檚 European championships.
Former Bayern Munich boss Nagelsmann has signed a deal until the end of next July, allowing the 36-year-old to leave after Euro 2024.
鈥淲e have a European Championship in our own country 鈥� that鈥檚 something special,鈥� Nagelsmann said in a statement.
鈥淚 have a great desire to take on this challenge.鈥�
Nagelsmann said he signed the short-term deal 鈥渢o keep the Euros in focus鈥� but insisted he 鈥渨ould not rule out鈥� an extension.
Flick, who became the first coach in Germany history to be sacked, had won just four of 17 matches leading up to his dismissal and took the team to a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The four-time world champions were also knocked out in the group stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia under previous boss Joachim Loew.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf called Nagelsmann 鈥渁n outstanding coach鈥� and said: 鈥淲e are convinced (he) will ensure that the national team inspires its fans and that the Euros are also a sporting success.鈥�
Flick was sacked after a humiliating 4-1 friendly loss to Japan in Wolfsburg in early September.
Nagelsmann, who also succeeded Flick as Bayern coach, has been jobless since he was sacked by the German champions in March.
DFB sporting director Rudi Voeller called Nagelsmann 鈥渁n absolute football expert鈥� and said he had 鈥減roven himself at a very young age for a head coach.鈥�
Voeller took the reins on a 鈥渙ne-off鈥� basis for Germany鈥檚 2-1 win over France in Dortmund, but said his main task was to find a permanent successor.
Nagelsmann said the victory over France was 鈥渢he beginning鈥� of the team鈥檚 journey to Euro 2024.
Benjamin Glueck and Sandro Wagner have been appointed as Nagelsmann鈥檚 assistants.
Nagelsmann was seen as a rising star after impressive spells at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, before getting the top job at Bayern.
Nagelsmann was mentioned as a possible candidate for a number of top club vacancies over the summer, being linked with English sides Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Paris Saint-Germain.
Nagelsmann told a press conference he would focus on a playing style which was 鈥渆asy to implement,鈥� saying: 鈥淓specially in difficult moments, it鈥檚 important to give players something they can grasp.鈥�
Nagelsmann spoke out for the first time about his 鈥減ainful鈥� Bayern exit.
鈥淲hat hurts most in a separation like that is that it is painful to sit in front of the TV and watch your team in the Champions League, but know that you aren鈥檛 able to help them and work with them,鈥� he said.
The Bavaria native, who became the youngest coach in Bundesliga history when he took over as head coach of Hoffenheim aged 28, added: 鈥淔or me as a person, Julian Nagelsmann, I don鈥檛 define myself by the job.
鈥淭here can be phases where it doesn鈥檛 go perfectly. That鈥檚 part of the job. But I know when I lie down in bed in the evening, there鈥檚 other things that define me, not just the job as a football coach.鈥�
Nagelsmann said he was 鈥渓ooking forward鈥� to meeting his former Bayern players in the national team setup again.
鈥淚 really enjoyed working with those players.鈥�
Nagelsmann also confirmed Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who Flick named as captain to replace the injured Manuel Neuer, would keep the top job.
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely convinced of Ilkay as a person and as a player.鈥�
Germany鈥檚 next assignment is a tour to the United States in October, playing friendlies against the USA and Mexico.