Julian Nagelsmann withdraws from race to become next Chelsea manager

Cameron Smith

• 21 Apr 2023 10:05 CDT
• 3 min read

Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly withdrawn his name from consideration for the vacant role as Chelsea's permanent manager.

Nagelsmann, 44, was previously considered to be the Blues' first-choice candidate for the job, ahead of Mauricio Pochettino, but he no longer wants to take over at Stamford Bridge, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Romano revealed on Twitter: "Julian Nagelsmann has now withdrawn from the race to become the new Chelsea head coach — it looks like it’s his final decision.

READ: Revealed: The four clubs interested in signing Chelsea stars amid summer fire-sale

"German coach is said to be no longer available after multiple round of talks. Nagelsmann was top candidate for the job."

The 44-year-old was sacked by Bayern Munich during the March international break, despite the Bavarians being unbeaten in this season's Champions League under his reign.

He was replaced by Thomas Tuchel, who was Chelsea's manager at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. Frank Lampard is currently at the helm at Stamford Bridge after he was appointed as interim manager following the sacking of Graham Potter in early April. Lampard has lost all four of his games in charge so far and oversaw the club's 4-0 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea plan Brentford raid as Osimhen ruled out

Chelsea's new head coach search

Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, with assistance from co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, are in the process of interviewing candidates to become the club's new manager, with the permanent position left vacant following Graham Potter's sacking.

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has emerged as a shock candidate to take over, according to The Times, while Pochettino has impressed the Chelsea board during their recruitment process.

Luis Enrique, who was sacked by Spain after the 2022 World Cup, was also linked with the Chelsea job, but the Blues decided against appointing him in preference of other candidates.

Talks with Pochettino are currently ongoing, although the Chelsea board have not yet made a final decision on who will become their next permanent manager. The Blues want to be 100% sure with their decision on who will become the next head coach, according to Romano.

Nagelsmann has also been linked with the head coach role at Tottenham Hotspur, which has been vacant since Antonio Conte was sacked in March.