Sandro Wagner: Assistant coach leaves the national team-the reactions

This decision by Sandro Wagner really hurt Julian Nagelsmann a year before the World Cup. But in view of the tempting options, the national coach has an absolute understanding of his companion, who would like to be a boss at a club as an assistant coach for the national team in the future-and could thus become the first stone in a large coaching domino of the Bundesliga.

A World Cup with a title chance in the USA, Mexico and Canada? Wagner obviously didn’t want to wait for that. The 37-year-old explains his great ambitions to take responsibility himself in the future.

“I would like to take the next step soon. It is no secret that it is my great wish to work as a head coach at some point. With the start of my football teacher training in January, this has become increasingly clear to me,” said the former striker. The conversations with the participants at the DFB were open and very good, Wagner described.

Trainer at the sagging district giant Borussia Dortmund, Xabi-Alonso successor in Leverkusen or in tandem with upper boss Jürgen Klopp at RB Leipzig? For Wagner, who enjoys an excellent reputation in football Germany, there could be a wealth of tempting opportunities this summer.

His commitment from a “Spiegel” interview in January, according to which he “definitely” wants to remain assistant to the World Cup, now fully brought back three months later. At that time, Wagner had asserted that the position was “perfect” and the World Cup 2026 “a cool goal”. Now there are obviously more attractive goals.

“I can personally understand Sandro’s wish to become a head coach and respect his decision,” said national coach Nagelsmann. At the final four tournament of the Nations League, the duo wants to win a common title in front of a home crowd. The semi -finals against Portugal are waiting in Munich on June 4th. Four days later, the final rises in the same place – opponents would be European champion Spain or France.

Wagner himself emotionally commented on the social network LinkedIn – and left his concrete future open from summer. “There have been concrete inquiries from clubs in the past few weeks and months. That honors me,” Wagner wrote. However, he has “not yet made a decision whether I would take on a new task directly in summer or concentrate completely on my trainer training”. Wagner now wants to think in peace.

The DFB initially did not provide any information as to whether and how it will fill Wagner’s posts. Benjamin Glück remains as an assistant alongside Nagelsmann, who himself had extended his contract until EM 2028. “Sandro has enriched our team with its expertise and as a person,” said Nagelsmann. In the shadow of the national coach, Wagner often practiced in public reluctance.

The emotional home European Championship with the bitter quarter-final against the later winner Spain will remain in a positive memory for the trio Nagelsmann, Wagner and Happiness-a title at the mini tournament this summer is to be the crowning glory. In autumn, the qualification for the World Cup, which will be held for the first time in 2026 with 48 participants and lasts five and a half weeks from June 11th to July 19th.

Sports director Rudi Völler, who, like Nagelsmann, has only extended, firmly believes in a successful future of the still assistant. “He also had a decisive part in the exciting appearance of our team. I am sure that we will soon see Sandro as head coach on the sidelines. He will go his way,” said Völler. Wagner previously worked at SpVgg Unterhaching and the U20 of the DFB.

Wagner had “developed enormously” on Nagelsmann’s side, Völler stated. In the event that the former striker takes over one of the top clubs for the new season, Wagner would stay in touch with his former boss: no longer as an assistant, but as a direct contact for the issuing and nomination issues.

Note: This article has been updated.