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Chelsea: 3 potential managers that could replace Frank Lampard

By David Glancy

Leipzig's German headcoach Julian Nagelsmann looks on ahead the German Cup (DFB Pokal) 2nd Round football match Augsburg v RB Leipzig in Augsburg, southern Germany, on December 22, 2020. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP) / DFB REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND QUASI-VIDEO. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Leipzig's German headcoach Julian Nagelsmann looks on ahead the German Cup (DFB Pokal) 2nd Round football match Augsburg v RB Leipzig in Augsburg, southern Germany, on December 22, 2020. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP) / DFB REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND QUASI-VIDEO. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Julian Nagelsmann
Leipzig’s German headcoach Julian Nagelsmann (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Julian Nagelsmann

Continuing the theme of going after a young manager with the potential to develop both the recent summer signings and academy players, Julian Nagelsmann will likely be a name linked to many of the top vacancies across Europe. The 33-year-old RB Leipzig boss is in the second year in charge of the East German side following the best year in the “young” club’s history.

After managing Hoffenheim from 2016 – 2019, Nagelsmann made the move to Leipzig and led the club to a third-place finish in the Bundesliga. Leipzig capped off their strong season with a deep Champions League run losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. Nagelsmann is credited with the development of Leipzig’s young, star-filled team and was Werner’s manager prior to his Chelsea move, where the German international scored 34 goals in 45 matches under Nagelsmann.

After working with Werner, Dayot Upamecano, Marcel Sabitzer, Christopher Nkunku, Lukas Klostermann, and others, Nagelsmann would seem an ideal fit to lead the development of Germans Werner and Havertz, as well as Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Reece James.

While it should not be expected of a Chelsea manager, Nagelsmann’s top-level Bundesliga and Champions League experience at just 33 make him an enticing long-term option for one of Europe’s top clubs. Nagelsmann’s success taking Hoffenheim to the Champions League and Leipzig to the final as well as the club sitting two points behind Bayern makes him an obvious pick in terms of domestic and international success and in player development.

Nagelsmann’s tactical flexibility would allow Chelsea to get the best of their recent signings and continue to allow both Werner and Abraham on the pitch at the same time. A high pressing, attack focused scheme would satisfy Abramovich’s preference for an attacking style of play. Nagelsmann would give Chelsea a manager to build a project around with the biggest knock being how long before he could return to Germany.

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