Head coach Nagelsmann disclosed further details about his father, Erwin, stating, “He worked for a unit within the German intelligence agency, but was allowed to operate freely outside. To my knowledge, that organization is akin to MI6 in the UK. When he revealed this to me, he repeatedly emphasized not to share it with anyone. Truth be told, I still don’t know exactly where he worked. He was secretive and his behavior was very mysterious.”
“My father always said, the less I know about his work, the better. Therefore, he minimized discussing work matters with me. Instead, he always appeared cheerful and humorous. He presented himself as someone who enjoys jokes, singing, and playing the guitar. He always treated me like a close friend. It wasn’t until later that I realized my father was merely trying to maintain such an external facade. In reality, he lived under tremendous pressure,” Nagelsmann emphasized.
According to Nagelsmann, he later learned about the life of a spy through various documents. It is a profession that demands nerves of steel from individuals: “My father had to stay alert even while sleeping. I remember one time I asked him, and he briefly described his job.” According to the 36-year-old coach, he never saw his father drink alcohol. “He lived with extreme discipline, to the point of harshness,” Nagelsmann stressed.
For many children today, having a father who is a spy may be something to be proud of. At least once in their lives, they have seen James Bond movies. But the legend of James Bond in movies is different from a real-life spy. Even Nagelsmann’s mother couldn’t bear it, leading to her filing for divorce from Erwin. The overwhelming pressure of the job led him to make the decision to end his life when Nagelsmann was just a 20-year-old.
“I still remember the most haunting day of my life,” Nagelsmann reminisced. “That day, I was in a coaching training session in Munich. The assistant came to me and said there was an urgent family matter. I had a bad feeling, so I rushed out. I saw my stepfather waiting anxiously with a tense expression. He informed me that my biological father had just committed suicide an hour earlier,” Nagelsmann recalled sorrowfully.
“The ground beneath my feet seemed to collapse. At that moment, I stood there in silence and cried silently. It was an unexpected farewell, with no promise of return from my father. He didn’t leave a suicide note. Perhaps he wanted me to know as little as possible about his final days,” Nagelsmann reflected. According to the German national team head coach, he was mature enough at that time to understand the need to respect his beloved father’s decision.
“Although he didn’t speak, I understood how stressed he was at work. He tried to change himself a lot in his final days. I understand that he wanted to free himself from a life of uncertainty and constant worry about the safety of his family, including me. I respect his decision, even though it was a very negative way to solve the problem,” Nagelsmann opened up.
Nagelsmann concluded the interview with a heartfelt sentiment: “We used to be a happy family, experiencing wonderful Sundays with cozy lunches. To this day, memories of my beloved father linger in my mind. It’s his cheerful smile when teasing me. It’s the melodies he hums while holding onto his old guitar. Memories are always beautiful, but often very sad.”
Nagelsmann affirmed that he was influenced by his father’s discipline and rigor. And he brings that personality into his coaching work. Erwin’s suicide was a life-changing event that pushed Nagelsmann’s maturity. “I went through terrible days in my youth. So, trivial matters in life never affect me. For example, when Bayern Munich unexpectedly announced my dismissal while I was on vacation in Austria, I accepted it calmly,” declared the German national team head coach.