Germany have confirmed the appointment of Julian Nagelsmann as their new head coach.
The 36-year-old returns to management six months after his dismissal from Bayern Munich, and he replaces Hansi Flick who was sacked by Die Mannschaft earlier this month after nearly two years in charge of the national team.
Flick suffered a heavy 4-1 home defeat in a friendly against Japan on September 10, and was relieved of his duties following a poor run of just four wins in 17 matches.
Two days later, sporting director Rudi Voller stepped in as caretaker boss for Germany's 2-1 friendly victory over France, but the 63-year-old was not interested in taking the job full time.
Instead, Voller and DFB president Bernd Neuendorf have 'voted unanimously' to appoint Nagelsmann as the 12th manager to lead the men's national team.
Nagelsmann has signed a contract with Germany until July 2024 and takes charge of Die Mannschaft nine months before the country hosts Euro 2024.
Speaking to dfb.de on his appointment as Germany boss, Nagelsmann said: "We have a European Championship in our own country. That's something special – something that happens every few decades.
"I subordinate everything to the fact of having a great tournament in a great country. I have a great desire to take on this challenge. The appearance in Dortmund (against France) was the beginning. We will be a close-knit group next year."
Neuendorf added: "Next year's European Championship is of enormous importance for football in Germany as a whole. We are convinced that Julian Nagelsmann, as national coach, will ensure that the national team inspires its fans and that the Euros is also a sporting success.
"Julian Nagelsmann is an outstanding coach who approaches his new task with the highest level of motivation. We will all now focus on the tournament next summer and support Julian Nagelsmann as best we can."
Voller continued: "Julian Nagelsmann was our preferred candidate as national coach when the search began. He is not only an absolute football expert, but has already proven in all his positions – at a very young age for a head coach – that he can motivate and inspire a team and the entire environment.
"His fire for football is noticeable and contagious – just like with his two assistant coaches Benjamin Gluck and Sandro Wagner, whose great energy I was recently able to experience myself.
"Julian Nagelsmann will be with his qualities and his personality will play a crucial role in ensuring that we will all experience a great European Championship in our own country in the summer."
Despite his dismissal from Bayern in March, Nagelsmann is understood to have to terminated his ongoing contract with the Bavarian giants that has prevented him from continuing to earn an income from the Bundesliga champions until 2026.
Nagelsmann, who was linked with a number of club jobs over the summer including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, won 60 of his 84 games in charge of Bayern and led the club to three trophies including one Bundesliga title.
The Bavarian-born coach previously managed RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim, taking charge of the latter back in 2015 at the age of just 28 – becoming the youngest-ever coach in Bundesliga history.
Nagelsmann will take charge of his first game for Germany when they embark on a tour of the United States in October, facing the Stars and Stripes in Connecticut on October 14, before locking horns with Mexico in Philadelphia four days later. body check tags ::
