Nagelsmann to take time off before next move as big clubs show interest
Nagelsmann, who rose to prominence in the Bundesliga as coach of Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, took charge of Bayern ahead of the 2021-22 season. After winning the Bundesliga title and two DFB Supercups, the Munich side have been less than dominant in the current campaign, recently slipping to second place behind Dortmund.
Being second by a single point would not be much of an issue for many clubs, but it's less than Bayern bosses expected, so they sacked Nagelsmann during an hour-long crisis meeting and replaced him with former BVB, PSG and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Funnily enough, Tuchel's first game will be the battle for the top spot against his former side.
As Bild reports, Nagelsmann is in no rush to return to management. The German newspaper suggests he will take time off to analyse what went wrong during his 21 months with the Bavarian giants, and find out what led to his first sacking in his six-year coaching career. Clubs keen on his services are going to have to wait until at least the summer to enter negotiations with the young coach.
And there are several big names circling around him. Real Madrid seem to be nearing the end of the Carlo Ancelotti era. They are second in LaLiga, with a 12 point gap between them and leaders Barcelona. Much like with Bayern's situation, being second with Real means you have failed. 63-year-old Ancelotti is the leading candidate to take over Brazil.
"Ancelotti is not only the players' favourite but it seems the fans' too. Everywhere I go in Brazil, in every stadium, he is the first name the supporters ask me about," the president of Brazilian FA (CBF) Ednaldo Rodrigues told Reuters. When he departs, to Brazil or elsewhere, progressive coach Nagelsmann will most likely be number one on the list of his possible successors.
Real Madrid's interest is very tempting, but so is the possibility to manage in the Premier League. Two clubs there would love to have Nagelsmann in their respective dugouts. Tottenham, currently battling to keep a top four spot, recently parted ways with experienced manager Antonio Conte and will likely finish the season under interim manager Cristian Stellini, Conte's former assistant. Daniel Levy has an extensive list of managers (we picked the top five of them, including Nagelsmann, in this article) and Nagelsmann is definitely near the top of it.
London rivals Chelsea are also contemplating a change in the dugout. The Blues' massive spending has not been paying off so far as the club sit in 10th in the Premier League, well below where American owner Todd Boehly and fans expect, having become used to success in the last decade and a half. Should the Blues decide to sack underperforming boss Graham Potter, a little over six months after bringing him in from Brighton, Nagelsmann can likely expect a call from them too.
