Contents
On September 22, 2023, Julian Nagelsmann became head coach of the German national football team. In November 2023 his team lost 2–3 to Turkey and 0–2 to Austria. Only a few months remained until the home Euros. Nagelsmann used them for clear messages inside and outside the team. He gave up the post in July 2026 after the World Cup. The months before Euro 2024 remain an example of the Quality of Communication.
Naming the situation openly
Situation
In February 2024 Nagelsmann spoke about his plan for the Euros in an interview with “Der Spiegel”. The team was “on the floor in sporting terms”, he said there. As a model for clear roles he named Germany's 2023 basketball world champions.
Link to the quality
Good communication begins with an honest diagnosis. Those who gloss over problems lose the trust of the people who experience them every day. A clear description of the situation makes changes understandable for everyone.
Clarifying roles before the tournament
Situation
Nagelsmann decided early who had which task. Joshua Kimmich was to move from midfield to right-back. Toni Kroos returned to the national team after his retirement from it in 2021. Nagelsmann spoke with several players about this in advance.
Link to the quality
Clarity is a form of respect. People perform better when they know their task and do not have to guess. Leaders should explain uncomfortable role decisions one-on-one before they become public.
Confirming words through action
Situation
On March 23, 2024, Germany won 2–0 against France. For the following match against the Netherlands, Nagelsmann announced the same starting eleven. The team won that match too.
Link to the quality
Communication becomes credible when deeds follow. Those who promise roles and then keep changing them devalue their own words. Consistency in decisions is a message in itself.
Involving the public
Situation
The squad for the Euros was announced step by step from May 12, 2024. Individual names appeared daily on different channels. These included the “Tagesschau” news program, Instagram, YouTube and even a bakery bag.
Link to the quality
This is where the Law of Connection applies. People are more willing to follow when they feel involved. Those who bring news to where people are create closeness before expecting anything from them.
Showing feelings after the defeat
Situation
Germany won its group and beat Denmark 2–0 in the round of 16. On July 5, 2024, the team went out in the quarter-final, losing 1–2 to Spain after extra time. At the press conference afterwards Nagelsmann spoke in tears about cohesion and mutual help in the country.
Link to the quality
Communication only reaches people when it is genuine. A leader may show that a result affects them deeply. What matters is turning it into a message that points beyond one's own disappointment.
Key takeaways
Key lessons
- Name the situation honestly before you announce changes.
- Tell everyone on the team early and clearly what their role is.
- Explain difficult decisions first in a personal conversation.
- Follow your words with recognizable deeds.
- Show what moves you and connect it with a message.
Summary
Julian Nagelsmann took over an unsettled team in 2023. With open analysis, roles clarified early and reliable decisions he gave it security. The unusual squad announcement and his appearance after the Euros exit connected team and public. Communication was not an add-on here but the most important leadership tool.