JULIAN NAGELSMANN has become the hot favourite to become the new Chelsea manager.
On Sunday, the Blues parted ways with Graham Potter after just six months at the helm.
A 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa was the final straw for Todd Boehly, who dismissed the ex-Brighton coach after showdown talks at the club's training ground.
Now, the board have set their sights on 35-year-old German Nagelsmann, who was recently dismissed by Bayern Munich.
The 35-year-old caused a social media storm when he arrived at training last season on a SKATEBOARD.
Rated as one of Europe's finest young coaches, he was nicknamed 'Baby Mourinho' by the German press, after taking on his first Bundesliga job at the age of just 28.
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He was encouraged into coaching by mentor Thomas Tuchel, who gave him a job scouting the opposition for FC Augsborg's reserves, when he was considering working for BMW in sales.
His rise saw him land German football's top job as Bayern boss – winning the Bundesliga last term.
And in the past, he's revealed his best tactical ideas have been formulated on the loo.
Forced to grow up
Nagelsmann grew up in Landsberg am Lech, a town in southwest Bavaria – 45 miles from Munich.
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He played for Augsburg and 1860 Munich at youth level, captaining the latter's U17's and living away from home.
"Overall, I certainly had to grow up faster than many others," he told German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine.
I didn't have that much time to be young and carefree. I moved out of home early because of football, from then on I had to take care of myself: cooking, shopping, things, everything that you normally do at nineteen or twenty, I had to do at fifteen."
The death of his beloved dad, who died aged just 52 after a short illness, then rocked his family.
Nagelsmann took on the father-figure for his mum and his elder siblings, Vanessa and Andre.
"Then there was the death of my father, after which I supported my family and did tasks that were rather untypical for my age: selling the house, looking for a new house for my mother," he continued.
"All of this leads to the focus on the essentials, to the realisation that there are more important things in life than football.
"These experiences were very hard for me and my family, but they made me mature and be more aware of life."
Cruel fate
As a player, it was a Chelsea legend who shaped his game.
When asked about his idol, he told The Times it was: "John Terry.
"It was crazy, because when I was a youth player I played with [close friend] Christian Trasch. I called him Patrick – Patrick Vieira – because he played No 6 and he called me John Terry, ‘Johnny’.
"In those days, Terry was one of the best central defenders – I think there was one season he did not lose one duel.
"He was brave with his head. I was good with my feet but better with my head, and there were some similarities, he was kind of a role model.”
Amusingly, he would tell Terry of his infatuation when the pair had a chance meeting.
“I talked to him for about three minutes and explained to him that I was John Terry in the early days as well," he added.
"I had to explain the situation, as he looked [at me] weird."
But, as he was dealing with the bereavement of losing his father, his own professional life began to crumble around him.
The promising centre-half missed the 2006-2007 season and suffered a second knee and meniscus injury – damaging the cartilage.
The young prospect was forced to retire, a decision which left him heartbroken.
Nagelsmann spent a month in solitude and had to construct his next plan.
"It was very sad for me that I had to end my career so young," he revealed.
"At first, I didn't want anything to do with football."
He threw himself into his studies – first trying a business degree and then changing to sports science.
The Tuchel effect
However, it was another rising coach of German football who recognised Nagelsmann could offer something else.
Thomas Tuchel understood what it was like to have to end your playing career early – suffering the same fate at third tier SSV Ulm aged 25.
So, he offered Nagelsmann a route into the game – as an opposition scout analyst for Augsburg's second string.
Nagelsmann had already accepted a job at BMW doing sales, but on the advice of his mentor and gave it one last shot.
'Baby Mourinho' steps
Nagelsmann scored his first job with 1860 Munich, returning to the club he was once a youth product of, to be an assistant coach alongside Alexander Schmidt for their U17's.
He began learning the game, while still studying for a sports science degree. Importantly, it reignited his passion for football.
In 2010, he scored the job that would change his life – joining 1899 Hoffenheim's academy.
He controlled various youth teams, and became an assistant coach for the first, while leading the U19's.
In 2014, Nagelsmann's side won the Bundesliga U19 title. Already he was establishing himself behind-the-scenes.
By 2016, he was appointed head coach, following the departure of Huub Stevens, who resigned due to health reasons.
He was just 28, and us youngest ever head coach the Bundesliga has ever seen.
After saving the club from relegation in his first season, he helped managed Hoffenheim to a top four finish, meaning they qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
However, one eye-brow raising moment stood out during his time with the minnows.
In a 3-1 loss to future employers Bayern, Nagelsmann was spotted with a new hairdo, trimmed eyebrows and make-up.
He took his audition very seriously.
He said to German newspaper Bild: "Women are always allowed to make chic, so I thought that you can do it as a man too.
"I tried it. I hope it was reasonably successful."
Another giant Leip
Three years after landing his first manager role, Nagelsmann was appointed as RB Leipzig's head coach – with designs on breaking Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund's stranglehold on the league.
But his greatest achievement would be in Europe, where he lead the club to a Champions League semi-final.
He came up against his teacher, Tuchel – who had an embarrassment of riches at his disposal with PSG.
Leipzig succumbed 3-0 on aggregate to the French giants, but there was no shame in their performance – given their unlikely run.
A year later, they would play second fiddle to Bayern – who were eyeing up Nagelsmann as their future coach.
Toilet humour
Just two years ago, the Bavarians paid Leipzig a staggering £22million for Nagelsmann.
But, before he would move to Bayern – the tactician revealed all about his life, tactics and motivational motto.
Speaking to BILD, Nagelsmann hilariously admitted his best tactical plans seem to come to him while receiving a call from nature.
Nagelsmann – who favours a 3-5-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation – claimed he jots his toilet ideas down and even asks Pep Guardiola for advice.
Speaking about his toilet ritual, the German boss said: "[Afterwards, I scribble them on a scrap of paper with a pencil and ruler.
"[Guardiola] is the only one I can ask about the content of what he sees."
Nagelsmann confirmed he sees a speech therapist to help with thickening of the vocal cords… and to help him shout louder.
He joked: “I scream a lot in everyday life, not just on the pitch.”
Nagelsmann also shared his motto for life and football, saying: “Believe in yourself, but never forget to laugh!”
Bitter end
Last month, Nagelsmann was sacked by Bayern – despite the club winning the Bundesliga last season, being a point behind first-placed Dortmund, and in the Champions League quarter-final against Man City.
Ironically, he was replaced by Tuchel in the mad managerial merry-go-round that is the beautiful game.
The skateboarding Nagelsmann won 60 out of his 84 games in charge of the club, to say it was a shock was understatement.
Reasons of his dismissal have varied. One report revealed the Bayern board were infuriated he went on a skiing holiday following a defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Another said that a fallout with star man Sadio Mane was the catalyst for change.
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Outrageously, it was also claimed that the club's players were concerned he would leak stories to his girlfriend – Bild journalist Lena Wurzenberger. She has since quit her job.
Either way, he was gone. Bayern's loss could be Chelsea's gain, as the west Londoners plan for a new future under their new ownership model.
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