
3 months · 2 summary articles
Julian Nagelsmann resigns as Germany coach after World Cup group-stage exit
Nagelsmann stays on as Germany coach after World Cup exit despite calls for his dismissal
Julian Nagelsmann will step down as Germany’s national team coach on Friday, ending his tenure after a humiliating World Cup exit that has plunged German football into crisis. The 38-year-old, who had initially vowed to continue despite the team’s group-stage elimination by Paraguay on 30 June, agreed to resign during a crisis meeting with the German Football Association (DFB) in Frankfurt on Thursday, according to multiple German media outlets including *Bild* and Sky Sport .
The decision follows a catastrophic World Cup campaign in which Germany, four-time world champions, were eliminated at the group stage for the second consecutive tournament. Nagelsmann’s side drew 1-1 with Paraguay before losing 4-3 on penalties in Boston on 30 June, a result that triggered immediate calls for his removal. Despite public backing from DFB sporting director Rudi Völler just days earlier, the association concluded that a change was necessary to restore credibility .
Nagelsmann’s departure was framed as a mutual agreement to avoid a contentious dismissal, with reports suggesting he accepted a face-saving exit after pressure mounted from within the DFB. Former Germany defender Thomas Helmer, a prominent critic of the federation’s handling of the crisis, welcomed the move but warned against complacency. “I hope this isn’t just a case of the DFB saying, ‘We’ve done what we had to do,’” Helmer told *Welt* .
Speculation is already mounting over a successor, with Jürgen Klopp widely tipped to take the reins. The Liverpool manager, who has previously expressed interest in international football, has been linked to the role by German media including *Die Presse* . Klopp’s potential appointment would mark a dramatic shift in German football’s leadership, coming just weeks after Nagelsmann’s high-profile appointment in 2023.
The DFB is expected to announce Nagelsmann’s resignation formally later today, bringing an abrupt end to a tenure marked by unfulfilled promise. His departure underscores the deepening dysfunction in German football, where a once-dominant national team now faces existential questions about its future direction. The federation must now navigate a high-stakes search for a coach capable of restoring pride—and results—before the next major tournament.
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