RB Leipzig's coach Julian Nagelsmann talks to his players during the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. (REUTERS) After being sidelined from football at an early age of 20 due to a knee injury, Julian Nagelsmann on Friday defied the odds to become the youngest manager to reach the final four of the Champions League. He is currently 33-years-old and is younger than the current legends of the sport – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig humbled Spanish side Atletico Madrid 2-1, with United States midfielder Tyler Adams scoring the match-winner in the closing minutes of the match. The German side had initially taken the lead in the 51st minute with a header from Spanish forward Dani Olmo, but a disjointed Atletico were shaken into life when record signing Joao Felix came off the bench, earning and scoring a penalty to level in the 71st.
Leipzig will now lock horns with Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the semifinals, which is set to take place on August 19. While PSG boasts of a powerful lineup that includes Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, it will also be a test for Nagelsmann to match wits against his role model, manager Thomas Tuchel.
Julian Nagelsmann’s first step towards becoming a manager came when his coach at FC Augsburg II – Thomas Tuchel – appointed him as an opposition scout after a knee injury ended his playing career.
They’ll face each other in a Champions League semi-final next week. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/cpkSzfn8nB
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 13, 2020
It was Tuchel who paved the way for Nagelsmann to get the coaching role when the former was a coach of Augsburg reserve-team during the 2007/08 season. Tuchel has stated he has high regard for Nagelsmann and considers him an inquisitive and hardworking coach.
•Took Hoffenheim from 15th to 4th in his first season
•Qualified for the CL in his second season
•Finished 3rd in his first season with Leipzig
•Reached the CL semi final after losing his leading goalscorer
He only turned 33 last month. Julian Nagelsmann, everyone. pic.twitter.com/kKC34o4zW8
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) August 13, 2020
RB Leipzig are the first team to knock Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid out of the Champions League without Cristiano Ronaldo in their squad.
And they didn’t even need Timo Werner either. 🐸 pic.twitter.com/s9hDLPszdz
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 13, 2020
Julian Nagelsmann is younger than:
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Thiago Silva
Luis Suarez
Gerard Pique
Dries Mertens
Jamie Vardy
Sergio Ramos
Manuel Never
David Luiz
João Moutinho
James MilnerHe’s managing in a Champions League semi-final.#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/u2k20UIF8w
— Football on BT Sport #Club2020 (@btsportfootball) August 13, 2020
Leipzig, under Nagelsmann, finished third in Bundesliga this season, securing a total of 66 points.