Paris Saint-Germain

PSG 'in talks over Julian Nagelsmann, Thierry Henry appointments'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 04 June 2023

PSG 'in talks over Nagelsmann, Henry appointments'

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly hold managerial talks with Julian Nagelsmann, who wants to bring Thierry Henry with him as his assistant manger.

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly held talks with Julian Nagelsmann over the manager's job at the Parc des Princes.

Despite delivering an 11th Ligue 1 title to the capital club this season, Christophe Galtier is expected to be sacked by the Parisiens board in the coming weeks.

The Frenchman won the top flight and Trophee des Champions in his debut season, but PSG suffered last-16 exits in the Champions League and Coupe de France under his wing.

A 3-2 loss to Clermont in Saturday's Ligue 1 final-day clash also meant that PSG finished just one point clear of Lens at the top of the table, ending up one point worse off than the 2021-22 season under Mauricio Pochettino.

Allegations of racism from his time at Nice - which Galtier has vehemently denied - have also soured his time in Paris, and the 56-year-old is not expected to see out his contract, which runs until 2024.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Christophe Galtier reacts on January 11, 2023 © Reuters

Ex-Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has long been linked with the head coach's job in Paris, but speculation over the 50-year-old's future has cooled in the past couple of months.

Roma's Jose Mourinho and former Spain boss Luis Enrique have also emerged as candidates to succeed Galtier, but according to Foot Mercato, Nagelsmann is now the number one contender.

The report claims that the 35-year-old has already held conversations with PSG's Doha-based owners, and a fresh round of talks have been scheduled after a positive start to proceedings.

Nagelsmann has been hot property on the managerial market since his shock sacking from Bayern Munich at the end of March, with Thomas Tuchel replacing him after less than two years in charge at the Allianz Arena.

All of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid are believed to have registered an interest in Nagelsmann since his exit from Bavaria, but the Blues have now settled on Pochettino after Nagelsmann pulled out of the running.

Thierry Henry pictured in charge of Montreal Impact in March 2020 © Reuters

The former RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim boss was subsequently tipped to take over from Antonio Conte at Tottenham, but the Lilywhites also dropped their interest, as Bayern would be in line for significant compensation if Nagelsmann takes another job.

The 35-year-old is apparently still being paid by the German champions having been placed on gardening leave, meaning that his appointment could cost PSG more than £10m, but the Parisiens would have no problem forking out that fee.

Should PSG and Nagelsmann come to an agreement over the manager's job, the German is supposedly looking to bring Thierry Henry with him to the Parc des Princes as his assistant.

Henry endured two underwhelming stints as a head coach with Monaco and Montreal, lasting just 20 games with the former, and he subsequently spent a year-and-a-half as Roberto Martinez's assistant with Belgium until the end of the 2022 World Cup.

The 45-year-old will not be returning to the Red Devils, who are now under the tutelage of Domenico Tedesco, and he was reported to have been pining for the USA job, but the prospect of working with Nagelsmann at PSG apparently appeals to him.