Having taken charge in September 2023, Julian Nagelsmann now intends to remain in charge of Germany beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup and has identified ambitious targets for his increasingly confident side, according to the official website of Bundesliga.

Nagelsmann has signed a contract that commits him to the role until the end of UEFA Euro 2028 in Britain and Ireland after his previous deal was due to expire at the end of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

In guiding Germany to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 in their homeland, as well as to the top of UEFA Nations League Group A, the former RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich coach is credited with restoring a sense of belief in the national team in a great run of just one defeat in 15 games in 2024.

On extending his contract, the 37-year-old said: "When I took the Germany job in September 2023, I could not have imagined I would stay beyond the European Championships at home. Our big aim was to have a successful tournament together. I could also not imagine at that time just how much the national team means to people in Germany - how many hearts it touches and moves.

"The fantastic feedback that we have all received shows us that we are on the right path. It's not over yet. We have all achieved something as fans, players and coaches that we want to succesfully take further. We want to win titles together."

Rudi Völler, the national team's sporting director, said: "It isn't only fans in Germany who wanted Julian Nagelsmann to extend his contract past the 2026 World Cup. The players and all the staff at the DFB have been captivated by Julian's work towards our goals. We are pleased that Julian will keep on working in the long term with so much dedication to making our big aims a reality."

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf added: "Extending Julian Nagelsmann's contract is a very important signal, particularly as it comes when we are marking our 125th anniversary as an association. It shows we are not just resting on the success of the past but are working towards new ones in the future."

Nagelsmann is next due to lead Germany in a Nations League quarter-final first-leg tie against Italy in Milan on 20 March. Qualification for the 2026 World Cup will begin in November, with Germany's opponents dependent on their outcome of their Nations League campaign.