Julian Nagelsmann: Most Expensive Coach In Football History With Rp.437.4 Billion Release Clause

Julian Nagelsmann (Instagram @ julian.nagelsmann)

JAKARTA - With the announcement of Julian Nagelsmann as Bayern Munich's new coach for next season, the German is now the most expensive coach in the history of sport. The Bavarian giants paid 25 million euros (Rp.437.4 billion) to release Nagelsmann from his contract at RB Leipzig.

This figure exceeds Andre Villas-Boas, who cost 15 million euros (Rp262.4 billion) when Chelsea recruited from Porto in 2011. In fact, when Nagelsmann was bought by RB Leipzig from Hoffenheim in 2019, the official price was only 5 million euros.

Then, who really is Nagelsmann? Launching MARCA, Wednesday, April 28, at the age of 19, Nagelsmann's playing career ended with a knee injury. The diagnosis back then, that if Nagelsmann continued playing, he would need an artificial knee at the age of 40.

"I think I can play, I'm confident to achieve it, if I have to evaluate myself from a coach's point of view, I don't think I will be a top player, but I have enough talent to play professional football," Nagelsmann explained.

Then, Thomas Tuchel opened the door to this young lad's training. In 2006, Nagelsmann played for Augsburg with Tuchel as his coach. And after suffering a knee injury, he was offered a job as a scout for the club.

"Tuchel was impressed by my work as a scout, it was the first step in my career and I am delighted," he added.

"I don't consider him my mentor because our relationship is too pragmatic."

It's just that, so far, Nagelsmann has only won one trophy and it has come at the junior level. In the 2013/14 season, his Hoffenheim team won the U-19 Bundesliga.

However, it was this success that prompted the club to promote him to coach the senior team at the age of 28, making him the youngest coach in the Bundesliga.

After years of struggling in the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim is facing the threat of relegation. It was then that they signed Nagelsmann, a move that seemed very focused on the future in the Bundesliga 2.

However, Nagelsmann was able to drag the team from relegation close to safety. They finally finished the season seven points above the relegation zone.

At the age of 33, Nagelsmann became the youngest coach to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League while leading RB Leipzig in 2019/20. He will turn 34 in July and become Bayern Munich's youngest coach.

Julian Nagelsmann to join FC Bayern as head coach. Hansi Flick's contract will be terminated upon request. pic.twitter.com/tJBpXSiozu

- 🏆🏆🏆FC Bayern English🏆🏆🏆 (@FCBayernEN) April 27, 2021

In fact, Bayern Munich approached Nagelsmann during Pep Guardiola's tenure with the club, offering him the role of coaching the B team. He refused, staying with Hoffenheim. And when RB Leipzig came calling, he described it as a 'logical move'.

However, Bayern Munich always seems to be on the Nagelsmann coaching roadmap. He confirmed that in fact he will be living in Munich since 2017.

"My wife and child will live in Munich, we have family in the city and it's our home," he added in an interview with Eurosport.

"I am very happy in my life, but coaching Bayern will make me happier."