Tottenham fans and pundits have been left scratching their heads at the news Julian Nagelsmann is no longer a candidate to become the club’s manager.
talkSPORT understands that the former Bayern Munich boss is now not an option for Spurs who are pursuing alternative candidates.
Nagelsmann is arguably the most exciting name currently unemployed in football coaching, having been sacked by Bayern Munich in late March, before his replacement Thomas Tuchel dumped the side out of the Champions League and DFB Pokal.
At 35 years of age, Nagelsmann was the Bundesliga’s youngest ever manager when he took over Hoffenheim aged 28, and he then steered the relegation-threatened village side into the Champions League for the first time.
Joining Leipzig in 2019, he took the team to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time, and also landed their first ever cup final.
Following that up with Bundesliga and Supercup wins at Bayern, the former wunderkind’s reputation was through the roof, and he appeared to be a perfect match for Spurs.
The north London side have failed to end their trophy drought since 2008 with ‘win now’ style managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, with Nagelsmann seemingly the ideal ‘project’ coach.
So when the news broke that he wouldn’t be joining, talkSPORT host and former Spurs striker Darren Bent was left stunned.
“They are having a laugh aren’t they?” he said. “What are they playing at? [Mauricio] Pochettino gone, Nagelsmann is a no?”
When co-host Andy Goldstein added that he’s been told age is a factor, Bent was even more baffled.
Bent replied: “Hold on, his age isn’t relevant for one of the biggest clubs in world football in Bayern Munich, but it is for Spurs?
“What’s going on? I honestly don’t get it.”
A number of Tottenham fans were also in disbelief, with one Twitter user saying: “Spurs letting Pochettino join Chelsea and failing to capture Nagelsmann is a summary of where we are at as a football club. Clueless.”
Another wrote: “Nagelsmann was literally a gift that fell into our laps and these guys want to reject him for no reason. I am so done.”
A third summed up the mood by writing: “No Pochettino. No Nagelsmann. This board has once AGAIN failed the club. What is the actual point of this club? We just exist.”
