A Premature Farewell for Nagelsmann's Right-Hand Man: Sandro Wagner
Julian Nagelsmann bids farewell to Sandro Wagner in a surprisingly cordial manner
Live The German National Team Bids Adieu to Sandro Wagner Sandro Wagner Departs the National Team a Year Early
Julian Nagelsmann's ambitious journey to World Cup victory with the German national team took a unexpected turn. Originally planned to embark on this journey alongside Sandro Wagner, their partnership now comes to an end earlier than anticipated.
In Stuttgart, Bundestrainer Nagelsmann and his long-time assistant Wagner shared their most emotional moment with the German football national team. Their heartbreaking loss against Spain in the quarter-finals of the European Championship last summer was followed by tearful goodbyes and grand plans. Nagelsmann called for the winning of the 2026 World Cup. However, the German footballers allowed themselves only brief moments of disappointment before focusing on the next target. For the coaching duo, this goal was already achieved a year earlier than intended.
On this Sunday afternoon (3 PM on RTL, DAZN, and live ticker on ntv.de), the DFB team, Nagelsmann, and Wagner return to Stuttgart. They would rather not be here. They would prefer to stay in Munich. But there, they lost the semi-final of the Nations League against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portuguese team a few days ago and faced criticism. Now, it's only about the third place against the French, who seem to not care much about this game.
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Germany aims to redeem itself after the poor performance against Portugal. Freghteningly, a larger story lingers above this game: the German national team says goodbye to Sandro Wagner, who is ending the announced World Cup mission prematurely. For months, hints about Wagner's departure had been circulating. When Nagelsmann received a contract extension to coach the team until the 2028 European Championship, Wagner's name was omitted from the congratulatory card.
And now, the premature departure before the World Cup next year. Assistant Wagner had earned a stellar reputation within the team and beyond. He realized that he had become too big for the role of the shadow. He was becoming impatient. There is not much room behind Julian Nagelsmann, not only due to the coach's size but also his constant presence in the limelight. In the rumor mill, Wagner was courted by various clubs each week. In the end, it became somewhat unexpectedly FC Augsburg, his first professional football home.
"Humble Shadows in Public"
For Wagner, working behind Nagelsmann was the perfect job. Prior to this, he was a trainer at regional league club Unterhaching and a popular TV expert. With the DFB team, he could experiment and learn without being in the spotlight himself. He did not see himself as a classic co-trainer for life, as he explained to Der Spiegel at the beginning of the year. "I contribute in such a way that we can have the greatest possible success as a team. That also includes consciously staying in the background publicly."
His role had its advantages. "But now, it's perfect for me, I can learn a lot from top people around me."
Football Multiple Stars Opt Out France Coach Shows Lack of Interest in DFB Match Nagelsmann and Wagner seemed destined to be a near-perfect pair when they began their coaching journey. It seemed they had found something similar to what Joachim Löw and Hansi Flick once had. They rarely discussed their relationship in public, but it was clear to spectators. Whenever the German national team was in trouble, Nagelsmann and Wagner would engage in active discussions on the bench, like in the quarter-final against Spain or in the San Siro against Italy when the team struggled to gain momentum.
After the final whistle, they often analyzed the game together on the field with Benjamin Glück, the third member of the coaching team. In the future, Benjamin Hübner will take over this role, replacing Wagner. Hübner is a confidant of Nagelsmann's and has an understanding of the head coach's methods. The former professional was Nagelsmann's extended arm on the field. He is Nagelsmann's choice. Unlike Wagner, who was already there. Hübner will join the DFB in the summer of 2023 as an assistant coach for the U20 team. After Hansi Flick's departure, Wagner took over the national team alongside Rudi Völler and Hannes Wolf for the test match against France in September 2023 (2:1). Then it continued alongside Nagelsmann.
"He Accomplished his Tasks"
It came as a surprise when the head coach made such cold comments about his assistant. Nagelsmann's words seemed indifferent, almost disappointed if one chose to interpret them that way. They contrasted strongly with what DFB striker Deniz Undav said about Wagner.
Sports Draw Pot Explained German Team Faces Tough World Cup Opener - Italy Must Slip Up "Of course, we will miss Sandro. Of course, we will miss Sandro," Undav said. Wagner was a beloved figure within the team because of his authenticity and his background as a player at a high level. "He knows how players think. He was always in tune with the players," Undav explained. "Sandro knows a lot about football. He knows what he needs to do. He has learned a lot."
Before the match against the French, Nagelsmann remained relatively unemotional, despite previously emphasizing that he could empathize with Wagner's desire to become a head coach. “I respect his decision,” said Nagelsmann.
On Saturday evening, Nagelsmann remained uncharacteristically cold: "He accomplished his tasks and fulfilled the things we needed in the coaching staff." That sounded noticeably matter-of-fact. “I wish him all the best,” Nagelsmann said, without delving into the specifics of Wagner's transition. "I believe he feels good and comfortable with this move, which creates good conditions for success." If Wagner manages to make FC Augsburg play attractive football, "I'll be able to watch a game with enjoyment," Nagelsmann said, who himself once played football and coached the Bavarian Swabians. "Then, I can maybe watch a game with pleasure. That's what I wish him."
Source: ntv.de
- Sandro Wagner
- DFB
- Football National Team
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Enrichment Data:
- Wagner's transition out of the role as assistant coach was planned and announced well in advance. He had agreed to leave the German national team after the conclusion of the UEFA Nations League Final Four, scheduled for early June 2025.
- Wagner's primary reason for leaving was to take up his first head coaching position in the Bundesliga with FC Augsburg during the 2025/26 season. Wagner himself stated that it had always been his goal to work as a head coach in the Bundesliga, and the opportunity presenting itself at Augsburg fit his ambition and the club's philosophy.
- While Wagner's departure might introduce a level of disruption due to the loss of an experienced and valued assistant, the transition was structured and had been anticipated by the DFB, minimizing any immediate negative impact on the national team's operations or performance.
- Given his ambition to become a head coach in the Bundesliga, Sandro Wagner decided to leave his role as assistant coach for the German national football team, accepting the opportunity to lead FC Augsburg during the 2025/26 season.
- Despite the impending departure of Wagner, the DFB remained optimistic, with Benjamin Hübner, a confidant of Julian Nagelsmann, set to join the coaching team in the summer of 2023 as an assistant coach for the U20 team, eventually taking over Wagner's role.
