Four months after discharge
FC Bayern congratulates Julian Nagelsmann
7/23/2023 3:23 p.m
FC Bayern always congratulates on its social media channels happy birthday. Current professionals, former players, coaches, officials who have shaped the club. And now Julian Nagelsmann too. That triggers reactions.
Julian Nagelsmann is currently quieter than it has been for a long time. Since he took over TSG Hoffenheim in 2016 at the age of 28 as the youngest head coach in Bundesliga history, attention has grown. Nagelsmann moved to Leipzig, reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with the soccer marketing tool, and then FC Bayern knocked. The people of Munich are now also the ones who are bringing the 36-year-old back into the public eye, which he has largely avoided since his leave of absence from the Bundesliga champions in March of this year.
“Happy 36th birthday, Julian Nagelsmann,” the club said on its social media channels. Because: That’s exactly what Nagelsmann is doing this Sunday. Whether and how he celebrates it is not known. There is also a cake emoji. And a picture of the smiling birthday child, which, due to the blurring in the background, is not entirely clear whether it was taken in the FC Bayern arena or at an away game.
Underneath, how should it be otherwise on Twitter & Co., there are numerous reactions and comments. “Should have still been a coach,” writes one who apparently does not approve of the surprising move to Thomas Tuchel during the international break in spring. “Had to see if this is a parody account,” writes someone else, who is therefore surprised that FC Bayern congratulates the no-longer-desirable coach on this path. Numerous commentators simply join the good wishes. In many cases, however, there is also a wish that Nagelsmann should please say goodbye to the Munich fans.
Kahn also received congratulations after being kicked out
Nagelsmann’s leave of absence caused great astonishment in March. In the Champions League, FC Bayern had won all six preliminary round games under his guidance and knocked out Paris St. Germain in the round of 16 with two victories, in the DFB Cup Munich were also confident in the quarterfinals. In the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund passed on matchday 25 because Bayern lost 2-1 in Leverkusen.
However, Tuchel was explicitly committed because the Munich club bosses saw “our goals this season” and beyond at risk. Under the new coach, both cup competitions ended in the quarter-finals. In the Bundesliga, it was only a goal by Jamal Musiala in the 89th minute of the last day of the game that secured the eleventh championship in a row – and that’s only because Borussia Dortmund didn’t win against 1. FSV Mainz 05 at home at the same time.
Incidentally, it is not the first time that FC Bayern has congratulated a decision-maker who has been relieved of his duties via his social media accounts. In mid-June there were congratulations for Oliver Kahn, who celebrated his 54th birthday. With a balloon instead of a cake emoji and with two photos instead of one, showing the former “Titan” once with the Champions League trophy and once the official Kahn in the Munich Arena. The former goalkeeper was only released as CEO of the club two and a half weeks ago. In addition to congratulations, these posts also often contain criticism.