IT’S ONE YEAR exactly since Huub Stevens stepped down as Hoffenheim manager due to health problems.
The succession plan was pretty risky to begin with. At the end of the season, Stevens was supposed to hand the reins to the club’s talented young coach Julian Nagelsmann but the then-28-year-old’s ascension was brought forward, with the club battling against the drop.
Eyebrows were sufficiently raised but Nagelsmann remarkably succeeded in keeping the side in the Bundesliga. And since then, he’s displayed some superb managerial nous, in spite of his youth.
In the twelve months since his appointment, only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have accumulated more points in the league. Such a staggering statistic shows exactly why Hoffenheim were so keen in giving Nagelsmann the opportunity of taking charge of the senior squad.
The side are currently in joint-fourth, level on points with Dortmund, but still a long way off runaway leaders Bayern.
They face Wolfsburg on Sunday and may move to third if other results go their way.
