Football
Associated Press 7y

Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann honoured for his academy work

Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann, the youngest manager in the Bundesliga, has received the Trainerpreis des deutschen Fussballs 2016 -- an accolade acknowledging outstanding academy work.

The 29-year-old Nagelsmann was honoured in particular for his work inside the Hoffenheim academy prior to his appointment as the club's head coach in February 2016.

He led Hoffenheim's under-19s to the Bundesliga title in 2014 and to the 2015 final.

When taking charge of the first team, he put a great emphasis on those players developed inside the academy and saved the club from relegation last season.

Under Nagelsmann this term, Hoffenheim are currently fourth in the Bundesliga, which would secure them a playoff spot for the Champions League.

Nagelsmann said: "That such an honour is given to me as a rookie nearly makes me speechless, and that happens rarely."

German Football Association (DFB) sporting director Horst Hrubesch said Nagelsmann "is a great example of how many talented coaches we have in Germany."

The Trainerpreis des deutschen Fussballs award honours a coach's outstanding achievements in the academy work.

Previous winners include DFB sporting director and former Germany under-21 coach Hrubesch, Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, who in 2011 was honoured for his work at Mainz, Schalke under-19 coach Norbert Elgert and Bayern Munich assistant coach Hermann Gerland.

ESPN FC's Germany correspondent Stephan Uersfeld contributed to this report.

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