Julian Nagelsmann
A severe blow of fate left its mark on him
Julian Nagelsmann has been national coach since autumn 2023.
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Julian Nagelsmann spoke about the loss of his father in an interview. The stroke of fate left its mark on the national coach.
National soccer coach Julian Nagelsmann (36) talks about the difficult time after his father’s suicide. “I was in my early twenties and suddenly had to take care of the family and sort out all the insurance. Everyday things that you don’t really give a thought to at that age,” he explains in a “Spiegel” interview. He had to make serious decisions, also to relieve his mother, “who suddenly lived in a big house without her partner.” Of course, “such harsh phases of life have a greater impact on your personality,” says the 36-year-old, “if you go through them so early. You grow up faster.”
Nagelsmann also says about his father’s death that he often thinks back to that day. At the time he was on a coaching course in Oberhaching near Munich. “And suddenly the course director said I should please go outside.” The next moment he stood in front of his father-in-law at the time, “who told me that my dad had killed himself.”
Nagelsmann’s father was in the Federal Intelligence Service
Julian Nagelsmann also reveals in the “Spiegel” interview that his father worked for the Federal Intelligence Service and was not allowed to talk about his job. At school, Nagelsmann said “what I always believed he was: a professional soldier. Even my grandfather believed his son was a soldier.” The football coach also reports about his father: “He was courageous. He had to make decisions again and again at work, knowing that the whole plan could go wrong. The worst thing in life is when you don’t make any decisions.”
Nagelsmann continued that he inherited a lot of things from his father. “As a coach, I don’t worry so much about what people think of me or my decisions. Especially at the beginning of my career, I just did things without considering how they would appear.” He continues: “In my first game as a Bundesliga coach at TSG Hoffenheim, I fielded four strikers. Everyone thought I was crazy, but we got an important point. I now weigh things up more. But the courage to make decisions I definitely got that from my dad.”
The former coach of FC Bayern Munich also answers the question in “Spiegel” whether he was never afraid of overexerting himself during his meteoric career: “I once had my risk of burnout tested. It’s zero Percent. Apparently not that many people have that. But I do pay attention to my rest periods. I go to the mountains or ski. I love football, but life isn’t just football.”
The telephone counseling service offers help with depression and suicidal thoughts on the free number: 0800/111 0 111