Löw: Nagelsmann can succeed me as Germany coach

Germany's World Cup-winning manager Joachim Löw has identified youthful Bundesliga up-and-comer Julian Nagelsmann, 29, as a possible successor to take charge of the national team.

Hoffenheim's Nagelsmann is the youngest head coach in Bundesliga history and was last week named coach of 2016 in Germany.

The 57-year-old Löw steered his country to the Brazil 2014 World Cup title and has been head coach since 2006.

Löw is the most successful Germany national team boss of all time having won 97 of his 145 internationals in charge, with 25 draws and 23 defeats.

Under his stewardship, the Germans have reached at least the semi-finals of all World Cups and European championships in the last decade.

But Nagelsmann is one of Germany's rising star coaches having kept Hoffenheim up last season, then turned them into Champions League contenders this campaign -- they are currently fourth in Germany's top flight.

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Löw tips Nagelsmann for Germany

And Löw is a big fan of Nagelsmann: "Maybe he will be the national coach one day," Löw told magazine Sport Bild. "He has a lot of competency, empathy, and a good connection to the players, so if he keeps going as he has done so far, I'm convinced he's going to be a great coach."

"He's made Hoffenheim candidates for the European Cup after years fighting relegation, developed players well and integrated others who had no chance elsewhere. I think a lot of him."

Löw has a contract with the German Football Association (DFB) until after the 2020 European Championship and has said his goal is to see Germany successfully defend the World Cup title in Russia next year.