- We seek the arrival of Nagelsmann.
Gordon Herbert, the new Munich Basketball coach (65), is stoked about a potential visit from Julian Nagelsmann, the German Football national coach (37). Herbert, who once paid a visit to the German football team as the national basketball coach before the European Championship, highly regards Nagelsmann's forward-thinking approach and management skills.
"I've got mad respect for him," Herbert raved in Munich. "He's got a clear idea of where he wants to take things and his problem-solving skills are on point. It's always dope when coaches from different sports drop by my team."
Herbert missed out on a bronze medal at the Olympics in Paris in August, falling short against Serbia. "That was a bummer," he admitted.
Plenty of work ahead
Reconnecting with some of his former national players in Munich makes his shift into club coaching smoother. "The transition period's a lot less daunting," he said. "It makes the whole process way more straightforward. It's massive advantage."
Herbert's ambition is to claim the German championship and make it to the Euroleague Final Four with Munich. "There's a ton of grind ahead," he said. He's keen on seeing his new squad play with more intensity and speed.
Herbert's bullish on FC Bayern
Herbert can't get enough of his new gig. "FC Bayern Munich's brand is one of the best in the world," he gushed. "It's an honor to be coaching here." He's yet to chat with Bayern patron and basketball enthusiast Uli Hoeneß, but they shared a footy match last year.
The team's first public gig is at a tournament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, later this week. Their Bundesliga season kick-off is on September 20 (8:00 PM) at home against the Niners Chemnitz.
Herbert mentioned that he admires Nagelsmann's approach in the German Bundesliga, saying, "It's always fascinating when coaches from different sports visit my team in the German Bundesliga." Later, discussing his football fandom, he mentioned, "FC Bayern Munich, with their strong presence in the German Bundesliga, is a brand I respect and feel fortunate to be coaching."
