Julian Nagelsmann resigns as Germany coach after World Cup group-stage exit

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8 days · 6 summary articles
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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