Former Bayern Munich player and current German national team assistant coach, Sandro Wagner, has rejected Hoffenheim’s advances to replace current manager, Pellegrino Matarazzo.
The report comes after Matarazzo’s emergence as a strong candidate to replace recently dismissed USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter.
According to Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), German fans need not fret Hoffenheim’s interest in Wagner as the 36-year-old looks poised to remain in his current role on Julian Nagelsmann’s coaching staff:
Sandro Wagner was Hoffenheim’s top candidate to replace Pellegrino Matarazzo should the latter leave for the US national team. Wagner rejected the inquiry after careful consideration and wants to stay with Julian Nagelsmann’s staff in the national team
Sandro Wagner was of course a former Hoffenheim player, making 42 Bundesliga appearances for Die Kraichgauer, scoring 15 goals in the process across the 2016/17 and 2017/18 campaigns. One would think Wagner would have jumped at the opportunity to manage one of his former clubs, however, he is committed to the German national team and Julian Nagelsmann.
Rejecting an offer to become the head coach of a Bundesliga side, who might I add also qualified for the UEFA Europa League, is nothing to sniff at. It makes Wagner’s decision all the more surprising, but also goes to show that Nagelsmann may just be cooking something special with the German national team.
What would you do in Sandro Wagner’s position? Take the Hoffenheim job should Pellegrino Matarazzo leave or stay on board with the German national team? Let us know in the comments below.