Julian Nagelsmann and Tottenham Hotspur could be a ‘good match’ with former Hoffenheim chief Lutz Pfannenstiel insisting that the ex-Bayern Munich boss would bring an ‘attacking, entertaining style’ to the Premier League giants.
Cast your mind back to the spring of 2021. Shortly after sacking Jose Mourinho, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy spoke publicly about the need to rediscover Tottenham’s supposed ‘DNA’.
Tottenham, he said, needed a coach ‘whose values reflect those of our great club. Playing football with the style for which we are known – free-flowing, attacking and entertaining – whilst continuing to embrace our desire to see young players flourish from our Academy’ (Sky Sports).
Antonio Conte, in hindsight, was about as far removed from Levy’s apparent aims as it was possible to get. A coach who cared little for aesthetics or, for that matter, the development of Spurs’ throng of exciting young talent.
Nagelsmann, in contrast, is a coach who made his name with a free-flowing, attacking approach which made Hoffenheim one of the most watchable teams in Europe for a spell. His reputation with young players, meanwhile, should prick up the ears of Oliver Skipp, Pape Matar Sarr and co.
Tottenham Hotspur want former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann
The 35-year-old German left Bayern last week. And, after failed approaches back in 2019 and 2021, Sky say that Tottenham have opened talks with Nagelsmann in the hope of making it third time lucky.
“I believe it is very difficult for Julian to coach any other German club. Where can you go from Bayern?,” says Pfannenstiel, who worked with Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim (talkSPORT, 28 March, 1pm).
“I think the future will be abroad. Spain or England? That is the big question. We all know that he loves football, he watches everything, the Premier League is the league you want to have that experience in.”
‘A very good match’
Nagelsmann, per The Telegraph, is claimed to have owned a replica Spurs shirt in the past, such is his admiration for the London giants. Pfannenstiel himself admits that the 2022 Bundesliga champion is a ‘big Tottenham fan’
“I believe there was an approach before. But there were many approaches from many other clubs!, adds the now St Louis City director, all the whole rubbishing claims that Nagelsmann is something of a ‘difficult’ character.
“I personally think it would be not a good choice to go there right now (but) a very good choice in the summer.
“If you just leave a big job, you need a few weeks or months to reflect, calm down and understand and analyse what happened. And, then, you move forward
“If you’re thinking about the summer, then I think it could be a good match. Especially looking at the last few years at Tottenham, the attacking football somehow vanished.
“The last two mangers were based on a defensive set up. People at Tottenham are used to more of an attacking or entertaining style. For sure, they would get that with Julian Nagelsmann.”
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