Advisor reveals
This prevented Nagelsmann from returning to FC Bayern
February 24, 2026 – 8:30 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
After Thomas Tuchel was fired, FC Bayern apparently wanted to bring Julian Nagelsmann back. His advisor reveals why this didn’t happen.
In spring 2024, FC Bayern Munich announced that it would end its collaboration with coach Thomas Tuchel after the season. After less than two seasons, the Tuchel chapter in Munich was over. A long-term search for a successor followed for the German record champions, which ultimately ended in the employment of Vincent Kompany, but also resulted in a few rejections for the club.
One of the trainers who apparently didn’t want to hire in Munich: Julian Nagelsmann. Bayern only surprisingly released Nagelsmann in March 2023 in order to sign Tuchel. In September 2023, Nagelsmann took over as coach of the German national team.
According to his advisor Volker Struth, Bayern tried to get Nagelsmann to return after Tuchel’s dismissal. Struth told the “Bild” newspaper that he suspected that Bayern would come knocking again about Nagelsmann, “and that’s how it was.” Bayern’s sports director Max Eberl called him and a meeting took place in Munich, said Struth. However, Nagelsmann himself was not present.
“Julian was never there and asked us to be very sensitive about it,” the consultant recalled. The reason for this was the DFB team’s upcoming home European Championship in the summer of 2024. “In March there were international matches in France and against Holland, which went perfectly. The mood before the home European Championship was slowly gaining momentum. The fact that discussions were even being held could have been a danger for the European Championship,” said Struth. “In the end, that was a crucial reason why Julian didn’t do it,” he reported on Nagelsmann’s motives.
Nagelsmann’s sudden dismissal last year also played a role: “Especially since the sting was a bit deep,” said Struth. According to Struth, the use of Bayern patron Uli Hoeneß didn’t help either. “He called me and said that the separation from Julian wasn’t Bayern-like and that he would like Julian to become a coach again,” said the agent. Nagelsmann instead decided to extend his contract with the DFB. He still works there today and has a current contract until summer 2028.
