Vancouver Pro Rumors
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Julian Nagelsmann believes Thomas Müller can make a career as a head coach, but the national coach does not consider his former player as his assistant at the 2026 World Cup in his new adopted home of North America, if only for formal reasons. “Thomas is definitely a candidate who could occupy such a position,” Nagelsmann said before the national team’s World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg on Friday evening (8:45 p.m.) in Sinsheim.
But: « As you know, he has a contract until the winter of 2026 and he will return to training on (approximately) June 28. The coach will not be so enthusiastic if Thomas says he will come back three weeks later because he wants to become an assistant coach, » Nagelsmann explained of Müller’s role as a leading figure at MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps. Nagelsmann coached Müller during his time at FC Bayern Munich and until his resignation from the national team after the home European Championships in 2024. Even after Müller moved to Canada, Nagelsmann remained in touch and said the 2014 world champion was very happy in his new adopted country.
« I talked to him. He thinks it’s very, very good in Vancouver at the moment, he’s playing well too. He’s scoring goals, making a lot of assists. He’s trying to progress (Site notre bureau spécialisé) there and I think he wants to do that beyond the World Cup, » Nagelsmann said. The national coach therefore ruled out the 36-year-old’s participation as coach in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. “That’s why I’m taking risks, he won’t accept an assistant coaching position for me or any other coach this summer,” Nagelsmann said. His coaching team includes several assistants: Benjamin Hübner, Benjamin Glück, goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg and standard coach Mads Buttgereit.
Müller as head coach? “He has what it takes”
But the 38-year-old has no doubts about Müller’s qualifications. « He has what it takes to be head coach, but I don’t know if he wants it. He also has what it takes to be an assistant coach. I don’t know if he perceives it that way, » Nagelsmann said and concluded his remarks about a possible DFB assistant Müller: « But what doesn’t happen now can always happen in the future. »
Here (Site notre blog d’information) explains how to qualify for the World Cup in Europe and the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
