Top three managers who can replace Hansi Flick as Germany manager

Hansi Flick’s tenure ends with a 4-1 loss to Japan

Germany are going to host the Euro 2024 next year in their own land. And with their home crowd backing them the German football federation seemingly wants more out of their team and manager. And for any country set to host a given tournament for any sport, it is a matter of great prestige and responsibility. Apart from the preparations for the entire event, it becomes even more important to be a good candidate for the winner's medals as well. But given things weren't moving in that direction for the German national football team under manager Hansi Flick. The German Football Association (DFB) finally decided to pull the trigger.

Hansi Flick had taken over the German side after World Cup winner Joachim Löw decided to step down. After 15 years of service as the German head coach, the 2014 World Cup-winning manager decided to step down in 2021. Although Flick started on a high initially, he couldn't take Germany past the 2022 World Cup group stages and recently was given a 4-1 thrashing by Japan at Volkswagen Arena, Germany. Things had to change. In doing so, Flick became the first-ever German manager to be sacked. The German board has decided to make Rudi Völler as interim manager supported by Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner.

After Flick was fired a statement was issued by the DFB federation. A line from the statement delivered by President Bernd Neuendorf read: "With next year's Euro in sight we need confidence and an enthusiastic mood". This echoes a change to bring in a new character to bring back the winning ways that the mighty German national football team is long associated with. Let's have a look at the prospective managers that might spur the change as Germany is set to host the Euro 2024:

3. Louis van Gaal (Nation: Netherlands)

The last time Louis van Gaal served as a national team manager was against Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It was a quarter-final showdown between the Netherlands and Argentina in the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. The game saw van Gaal and team witness defeat in the penalty shootouts to the eventual World Cup winners. It was in that game post-match press conference that Louis van Gaal let the world know he wouldn't be continuing further.

The 72-year-old was battling with prostrate cancer during the World Cup and even kept it private from the players and others. This shows the character and boldness of the coach who was in his third spell as the head coach for his nation. In that spell, van Gaal managed the Dutch national team for a 20-game period at an astonishing 2.35 points per match (PPM). Even at club level, he has coached big teams like FC Barcelona, Bayern Munchen and even Manchester United.

Louis van Gaal even made it clear in a conversation with Bild: “Normally I won’t coach at a club anymore, but a promising country still has a chance to convince me,”. Seemingly the former Oranje boss hasn't ruled out the possibility of taking over a side as big as the German national football team itself.

2. Miroslav Klose (Nation: Germany)

But even with very good rapport and the report of the former Bayern Munchen manager Louis van Gaal, he still is recovering from his illness. And given he is not a German-origin manager, we might give these two names more priority.

At the club level in Spain, the world was once shell-shocked after Zinedine Zidane was named the head coach in the middle of the season for a side like Real Madrid. Zidane for sure was a club legend as a player but many people weren't convinced he was made for the job of a manager. The Frenchman led Los Blancos from the sidelines to a 5-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna in his debut game. And the rest is history. Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League that very season and later added another two in succession.

This serves as a successful example of what a German legend player like Miroslav Klose could also deliver for his national side this time as a manager. Klose has built his reputation and candidature after serving as an assistant manager to both Hansi Flick and Joachim Löw.

Under Löw, Klose assisted the German national team from November 2016 to July 2018. And further was seen assisting Flick while at Bayern Munchen from July 2020 to June 2021. Klose had a 2.22 PPM when he was head coach for FC Bayern U17. And recently 0.83 PPM was observed while at club SCR Altach. This low PPM shouldn't deter the willingness of the DFB board as the German side obviously is filled with talented players that just need new direction and mentality.

1. Julian Nagelsmann (Nation: Germany)

Probably the dream candidate that could be handed the reign of the German national football team. As per reports from the German outlet BILD, Julian Nagelsmann is the hottest man for the job at the moment.

Nagelsmann is a very highly rated manager and that too at a very young age of 36. To give you a perspective Louis van Gaal is twice his age. Still, the former RB Leipzig coach Nagelsmann is highly touted to take over the vacant position of Germany's national football team's manager. Last time he was seen managing the German giants Bayern Munich. Bayern decided to relieve him from his duties in March of this year even though he had a PPM of 2.31.

Even though Bayern Munich parted ways with Julian Nagelsmann, things are still a bit tricky. He is reportedly still under contract with the Munich-based club whose deal is set to expire in 2026. But given the urgency of Germany's bid to secure a new manager before the Euro 2024 begins at full throttle compensation to Bayern might come in handy. Given the cost of Nagelsmann's contract, a €10-15 million fee could compensate Bayern and DFB will be able to get their man finally.