Germany national team manager Julian Nagelsmann has added a familiar face to his coaching staff ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Alfred Schreuder, 53, will join the Nationalmannschaft beginning with the international friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana later this month, the German Football Association (DFB) announced on Tuesday.
The appointment reunites Nagelsmann with Schreuder, with whom he previously worked at TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. Schreuder served as an assistant coach under Nagelsmann during their time in Hoffenheim, a period both men reportedly view favorably.
“I value Alfred very highly as a coach and as a person,” Nagelsmann said in a statement released by the DFB. “With the experience that he brings to the table, this is a huge boost for the team as we gaze ahead to the upcoming World Cup. We made the decision to bring him in as an expert addition to our staff, with a view to freeing up Mads Buttgereit to be able to focus fully on set-pieces in training.”
The strategic move to delegate set-piece responsibilities highlights Nagelsmann’s belief that dead-ball situations will be crucial during the tournament. Germany will be looking to maximize their opportunities from corners and free kicks, and Buttgereit’s focused preparation, now facilitated by Schreuder’s arrival, is intended to grant them an edge.
Schreuder brings a wealth of experience to the German setup. Beyond his time at Hoffenheim – where he also briefly served as head coach from 2019 to 2020 – he led FC Brugge to the Belgian league title and Champions League qualification in 2022. Most recently, Schreuder was managing Al-Diraiyah FC in Saudi Arabia. He described the opportunity to work with the German national team as “a great honour.”
“We worked very well together at Hoffenheim, and there was a lot of trust between us,” Schreuder said, reflecting on his previous collaboration with Nagelsmann. “He won me over back then as a very young coach with his blend of courage, ambition and know-how. We’ve stayed in touch ever since.”
The German squad faces Switzerland on March 27th at 20:45 CET in Basel, followed by a match against Ghana three days later at 20:45 CEST in Stuttgart. These friendlies will serve as vital preparation for the World Cup, allowing Nagelsmann to assess his team and refine his tactics.
Schreuder joins a coaching staff that also includes Benjamin Glück, a long-time collaborator of Nagelsmann, former Hoffenheim player Benjamin Hübner, set-piece specialist Buttgereit, and goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg. The assembled team represents a blend of experience and tactical expertise as Germany aims to make a strong showing at the tournament.
For fans following the Nationalmannschaft, Schreuder’s appointment signals a commitment to tactical flexibility and a deeper dive into the details that can separate success from failure on the international stage. The focus on set-pieces, in particular, is a noteworthy development, suggesting Nagelsmann is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation for the World Cup. The upcoming friendlies will provide the first glimpse of how Schreuder’s presence impacts the team dynamic and tactical approach.
Germany will demand all the advantages they can receive as they navigate a challenging tournament landscape. The addition of Schreuder, a coach with a proven track record and a strong rapport with Nagelsmann, is a clear indication of the manager’s intent to build a cohesive and well-prepared team capable of competing at the highest level.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the German national team is the friendly match against Switzerland on March 27th. Fans can follow updates and coverage on the DFB’s official website: https://www.dfb.de/
