Why Manchester United decided against Julian Nagelsmann appointment
He was a target.
Manchester United’s new co-owners decided against appointing Julian Nagelsmann because they felt doing so would represent a repeat of mistakes made in the past by the club.
The Red Devils are likely to part ways with Erik ten Hag in the summer, following the Dutchman’s dire second season in charge at Old Trafford.
Nagelsmann, just 36, is one of the most coveted coaches in the world and he’s repaired the damage done to his reputation with the German national team after a stint with Bayern Munich.
The former RB Leipzig coach was in two minds over whether to extend his deal with the national team, following interest from former club Bayern and United.
But he confirmed earlier this week that he has signed a deal to guide Germany to the 2026 World Cup.
That’s despite interest from United, where there is admiration for Nagelsmann at board level.
But the Telegraph say the club feel Nagelsmann’s appointment would have seen the club repeating mistakes of the past.
While Nagelsmann is respected, the German likes to play a specific brand of football with wing-backs and three at the back.
There was therefore an acceptance at Old Trafford that the team is not geared towards Nagelsmann, and almost that the club was not ready for the German.
Instead, United will focus on creating a ‘game model’ at the club through the work of Jason Wilcox, who has been appointed as technical director.
It will be Wilcox’s job to create a coherent system that will produce suitable players for the first team and academy, that are geared towards playing a similar brand of football.
United have bounced from manager to manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, and they’ve allowed each coach too much say in transfer policy.
Ten Hag has been allowed to primarily sign players from Holland, and often players that he has worked with before.
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