By Mike Woitalla
Hoffenheim, one of only three undefeated teams in the Bundesliga, is coached by Julian Nagelsmann, who is the same age as his team’s leadingscorer. He took the helm in February at age 28 with Hoffenheim in second-to-last place.
Hoffenheim was seven points deep in the relegation zone when it promoted Nagelsmann from youth coach toreplace Dutchman Huub Stevens. The team had won two of its first 20 games in the 2015-16 season when Nagelsmann took over. It won seven of its last 14 games as Nagelsmann guided it tosafety, finishing above relegated Eintracht Frankfurt, VfB Stuttgart and Hannover 96.
This season, Hoffenheim is undefeated with five wins and five ties, the last draw coming against leagueleader Bayern Munich before the international break.
After 24 games with Nagelsmann at the helm, Hoffenheim has picked up 43 points, bettered only in the Bundesliga during that period byBayern Munich (59) und Borussia Dortmund (51). Hoffenheim is currently in third place, four points behind Bayern.
Hoffenheim also has the Bundesliga’s youngest roster, including eightplayers from its own academy, some of which Nagelsmann coached when at age 26 he guided Hoffenheim to the A-Junioren (U-19) national championship.
By no means had Nagelsmann planned it thisway. His aim was to be a professional player, but a knee injury ended the defender’s career at FC Augsburg at age 20 before he played a first-team game. (Before joining Augsburg, he was ateammate on 1860 Munich’s youth teams with U.S. national team player Fabian Johnson.)
“At first, I didn’t want anything more to do with soccer,” said Nagelsmann. “It was very sad for me that I had to end my career so young.”
Nagelsmann, with his playing career over, studied business administration but switched to sports science — then returned to Augsburg, where reserve team coach Thomas Tuchel, nowthe boss at Borussia Dortmund, enlisted Nagelsmann to scout opponents.
“That was my way into coaching,” said Nagelsmann, who joined Hoffenheim as a youth coach in 2012. “I learned a lot fromhim.”
Nagelsmann’s view on what makes a successful coach:
“In coaching, 30 percent is tactics, 70 percent social competence,” he said. “Every player is motivated by different things andneeds to be addressed accordingly.”
Hoffenheim midfielder Kevin Vogt said, “It’s fun to work with him. He makes the playersbetter.”
Nagelsmann is also known for his calm demeanor.
“I do not yell at my players because they made a mistake or rage in the locker room,” Nagelsmann said.
WhenHoffenheim appointed Nagelsmann head coach, some of the German media called it a publicity stunt. But his players were quickly convinced.
“Julian is a down-to-earth type,”
“He brings everyone on board and every player feels important.”
It had been unheard for someone in his 20s to get a head-coaching job at pro club in a major league in any country. The coach, it seems, had to be significantly older thanhis players.
Clubs consider it safer to hire older, experienced coaches no matter how many times they’ve been fired, than to trust a younger coach. Hoffenheim, instead, hired a guy whowasn’t even an approved coach by the German federation (DFB) standards. The appointment of Nagelsmann was OKed on the condition that he complete the DFB senior coaching license, which he didwhile saving Hoffenheim from relegation.
So without experience coaching pros, without the proper license, and far younger than coaches who usually get hired, Nagelsmann was given anopportunity and can already be considered a success — as he saved Hoffenheim from relegation last season.
Aspiring younger coaches face the Catch-22 of not getting hired because theydon’t have enough experience, which they would only get if they got hired.
The Nagelsmann story should change the approach clubs take when hiring coaches. Age and experience might beover-rated.
Fantastic move by Hoffenheim. Other clubs should follow suit. Young coaches may understand the ‘personal’ approach better b/c they internalizes social media and what it means to grow up in this era. Older Coaches seriously have to re-evaluate their player mgt tools if they want to get the most out of their squad b/c player development never stops even at the elite level. I am sure Nagelsman can make make practice fun, too. Go on, Julian and take Hoffenheim to the CL next year.
Hoffenheim midfielder Kevin Vogt said, “It’s fun to work with him (coach Julian Nagelsmann). He makes the players better.” Sounds a bit foreign on this side of the Atlantic.