It is difficult to overstate how impressive Julian Nagelsmann’s tenure as Germany head coach has been. Taking over for the now-FC Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, who everybody thought would be the one to bring Germany back from the doldrums, after a rotten run of results in which the 2014 World Cup winners lost virtually every match they played, Nagelsmann had less than a year to overhaul the team, bring the joy back to German football and get fans excited for the home European Championship.
What seemed like an impossible task, however, was one the former Bayern Munich head coach completed with aplomb. Germany had falled back in love with football by the time the 2024 Euros rolled around was overflowing with excitement. Looking back at it at the end of the year, Germany youngster Aleksandar Pavlović summed up the development of German football in 2024 well: “You can see from all the euphoria surrounding the national team how the coach has changed the team and the atmosphere,” Pavlović explained, via @iMiaSanMia. “It’s always a lot of fun to go to the national team — and I’m very grateful for every call-up.”
Pavlović’s participating in the EUROs was cruelly cut short by fate, as he was ruled out through injury. Yet even just as a bystander the joy the tournament brought him was palpable in his words, making one thing clear: Whether one is a player or a fan, German football is exciting again. Long may that last.
