“Where’s the hidden camera?” – Toppmöller recalls shock firing with Nagelsmann at Bayern

In March 2023, Bayern Munich sacked Julian Nagelsmann along with his assistant coaches — including Dino Toppmöller — while the club was still fighting on multiple fronts. The now headcoach of Eintracht Frankfurt reflected on that situation on the podcast “Phrasenmäher”.

In March 2023, Bayern Munich made a decision that shocked much of the football world: head coach Julian Nagelsmann and his staff, including assistant Dino Toppmöller, were dismissed while the team was still competing for major trophies (Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League).

At the time, Bayern were in the Bundesliga title race, had advanced in the DFB-Pokal, and were preparing for a Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City. Toppmöller later described that day as surreal, saying it felt “like something out of a movie” and that he first learned of the news when he saw a headline rather than hearing it directly from the club. “Where’s the hidden camera?”, was Toppmöller’s instant thought in that situation.

He recalled spending the afternoon at the training ground with Thomas Müller, Sven Ulreich, and Bouna Sarr before everything unraveled in the evening:

“I turned off my phone because I just wanted some peace and quiet. When I turned it back on, I already had a call from the club wanting to let me know – but that was definitely after the headline”, said Toppmöller.

Both he and Nagelsmann were stunned by the timing, feeling the dismissal arrived just as the season was entering its decisive, most enjoyable stage.

After leaving Bayern, Nagelsmann stepped away from the touchline for several months before taking over as Germany’s national team coach in September 2023. He guided the squad through Euro 2024 on home soil and signed extensions that will keep him in charge at least through the 2026 World Cup. His work with the national side has been viewed as a chance to rebuild confidence and shape a young team for upcoming tournaments and his reputation as one of Europe’s most innovative coaches has continued to grow.

For Toppmöller, the setback became a springboard to an independent career. In July 2023, he was appointed head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt, stepping into his first major top-flight job as a number one. Under his leadership, Frankfurt developed a dynamic, balanced style and achieved impressive results.

They secured third place in the Bundesliga during the 2024/25 season, earning a return to the UEFA Champions League, and the club rewarded him with a new contract running until 2028. Toppmöller has spoken about how the abrupt end at Bayern taught him resilience and perspective, lessons that have shaped his approach at Frankfurt.

What began as an abrupt, painful separation for both men ultimately opened new paths. Nagelsmann found a platform to influence German football at the highest level, while Toppmöller forged his own identity as a head coach, proving that a brutal moment can become the starting point for growth and long-term success.