RB Leipzig's supervisory board chairman Oliver Mintzlaff sees Julian Nagelsmann as the ideal national coach and believes in a successful home European Championship. "I believe that we have so much potential in this team. And if there's anyone who can define and tease out this potential, then for me it's Julian Nagelsmann," said the 48-year-old in the podcast "Spielmacher - der EM-Podcast mit Sebastian Hellmann und 360Media". That's why he thinks Nagelsmann's contract extension is "good for Germany".
In order to be successful at club level, Nagelsmann "still has so many years in which he can coach top teams". The national coach had recently opted for an extension with the German Football Association (DFB) and against an offer from FC Bayern Munich. Nagelsmann had coached the record champions from July 2021 to March 2023 before being released. Because successor Thomas Tuchel did not bring the hoped-for success, Nagelsmann was to be brought back.
More positivity, less actionism
In principle, Mintzlaff would like to see more positive interaction in society and in soccer and less actionism. The past four games under Nagelsmann are a prime example of emotional fluctuations. These have ranged from "Julian Nagelsmann must be thrown out" to "we must now extend Julian Nagelsmann's contract as quickly as possible". "There are four games in between and Julian Nagelsmann was exactly the same coach," said Mintzlaff.
Mintzlaff cited the recent promotions of St. Pauli and Holstein Kiel to the Bundesliga as well as Cologne's victory over Union Berlin, who are in a relegation battle, as positive examples. "Football is at the heart of society, triggers a brutal enthusiasm and that is extremely good for all of us in this country," said the former Leipzig club boss.
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