In spring 2024, Julian Nagelsmann was considered a hot candidate to return to FC Bayern. Now his advisor Volker Struth has spoken openly about the background – and explains why it didn’t happen
In BILD’s „Phrasenmäher“ podcast, Struth provided rare insights into the talks behind the scenes, stating that FC Bayern seriously tried to bring Nagelsmann back to Säbener Straße after Thomas Tuchel’s departure
Struth explained that he had expected another approach from Munich: „I had it in my balls and knew that they would come back – and that’s what happened. Max called me and then Sascha Breese and I met with him and Jan-Christian Dreesen in Munich.“
European Championship atmosphere as a decisive factor
Remarkably, Nagelsmann himself was not present at the meeting. Struth explained: „Julian was never there and had also asked us to handle it very sensitively. There were international matches in France (2:0) and against Holland (2:1) in March, which went perfectly. The mood before the home European Championship was really starting to pick up. The fact that talks were held at all could have been a danger for the European Championship. In the end, that was also a very decisive reason why Julian didn’t do it – especially as the sting was still a bit deep.“
Struth thus suggests that emotional aspects also played a role alongside sporting considerations. The separation from Nagelsmann in March 2023 came as a surprise at the time – and had apparently not been fully processed
Hoeneß intervened personally
Even honorary president Uli Hoeneß is said to have personally intervened to make a return possible. Struth reported: „He called me and said that the separation from Julian had not gone well for Bayern and that he would welcome Julian becoming coach again.“
In the end, however, Nagelsmann decided against a comeback in Munich and instead extended his contract with the DFB. FC Bayern then began the search for another solution – they finally found a new head coach in Vincent Kompany.
