Julian Nagelsmann to Leave Hoffenheim After 2018-19 Season for RB Leipzig Job

Gill Clark @@gillclarkyFeatured Columnist IJune 21, 2018

SINSHEIM, GERMANY - MAY 12: Head coach Julian Nagelsmann of Hoffenheim looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena on May 12, 2018 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

TF-Images/Getty Images

Hoffenheim confirmed on Thursday that manager Julian Nagelsmann will leave the club at the end of the 2018-19 season:

TSG Hoffenheim EN @achtzehn99_en
🔵⚪️ #TSG Julian #Nagelsmann will leave TSG at the end of the 2018/19 season. The 30-year-old head coach has been in charge of #Hoffenheim's Bundesliga club since 2015. 🌐 More to follow. https://t.co/TxCT3jOUnW

The 30-year-old will take over as manager of RB Leipzig from the beginning of the 2019/20 season:

RB Leipzig English @RBLeipzig_EN
OFFICIAL: Julian #Nagelsmann will become RB Leipzig head coach from the 2019/20 season. The 30-year-old joins from @achtzehn99_en and has agreed a contract with #DieRotenBullen until 2023. #Nagelsmann2019 https://t.co/DVRrvBHR4c

Nagelsmann took over from Huub Stevens as head coach of Hoffenheim in 2016, and the 30-year-old has emerged as one of the brightest young managers in European football during his time with the Bundesliga side.

Match of the Day showed his impressive record at the club:

Match of the Day @BBCMOTD
First full season in charge: 4th 📈 Second full season in charge: 3rd 📈 30-year-old Julian Nagelsmann has finished in the Champions League places in both of his full seasons in charge of Hoffenheim; their highest ever position in the Bundesliga 🇩🇪 https://t.co/VzdPIz0vAo

The club's decision to announce his departure ahead of the new campaign is a surprise move, and it remains to be seen what effect it will have on the squad during the season.

Nagelsmann only signed a new three-year deal at the club in June, which was intended to keep him at the club until 2021.

He was rewarded with a new deal after an impressive season that saw the team finish third in the Bundesliga and secure a place in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.

Nagelsmann's exploits at Hoffenheim have seen him linked with some of football's biggest jobs. The German turned down the chance to replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, according to Bild (h/t Sam McEvoy for MailOnline).

The Hoffenheim boss was also a candidate for the Arsenal job before the club moved for Unai Emery, per Sky Sports.

Nagelsmann will move on to RB Leipzig, and the club will be hoping he can lead the team to a first Bundesliga title.

Football writer Ben Lyttleton offered his view of the appointment:

Ben Lyttleton @benlyt
That didn't take long! @RBLeipzig_EN have confirmed Nagelsmann will take over in summer 2019 with a contract until 2023. Fantastic appointment. Would expect SD Rangnick to be interim coach for next season.

RB Leipzig were only founded in 2009 but have risen swiftly through the leagues and claimed the runners-up spot in the Bundesliga in 2016/17 and a place in the Champions League.

The club finished sixth in the Bundesliga last season and saw Ralph Hasenhuttl step down from his position as manager of the club at the end of the campaign.