Julian Nagelsmann: Hoffenheim was the place where the youngest success coach in Bundesliga history first stepped fully into the spotlight. As a youth-team coach, he became the youngest U19 championship-winning coach in 2014 at the age of 26. In 2015 the board announced that he was intended to replace Huub Stevens as first-team coach for the following season. When the Dutchman had to step aside in February 2016 for health reasons, the trainee took over early.
At the moment of signing, he had not even completed his coaching education. It did not stop him succeeding: in 13 matches, the 28-year-old led a team that had been five points adrift of 16th place to safety with tactical flexibility and growing home strength. A season later he guided Hoffenheim to fourth and the Champions League playoffs.
In 2018 he took them directly into the Champions League with third place. Under Nagelsmann, Hoffenheim played in Europe for the first time and generated record revenues.