Bundesliga
Bayern’s search for a coach is in the final phase
Bayern Munich’s sports director Max Eberl is looking for a new coach. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Rangnick? Zidane? Flick? The question of the new Bayern coach remains exciting. Sports director Eberl hopes that the “finish straight” will soon be reached. Honorary President Hoeneß has some advice.
Max Eberl’s former companion in Gladbach, Lucien Favre (66), and Martin Demichelis (43) have now been brought into play as new names. There are hardly any limits to the imagination of fans and experts when it comes to coaching speculation. “We have made candidates and a smaller circle for ourselves, so we are constantly having discussions,” said Bayern sports director Max Eberl.
How long will the search last?
Not for long. The “white smoke”, which Eberl would like to rise in April after a successfully completed search, has not yet been seen. “We want to do it as quickly as possible, but also as thoroughly as possible,” said Eberl on ZDF. He hopes for a “timely” decision – and that things will reach the “finish straight” “soon”. “Of course before the end of the season in order to move forward with all the planning,” said Eberl. There is advice from Honorary President Uli Hoeneß. “That’s a very important personality. If you’re smart, you don’t let yourself be put under pressure,” the 72-year-old told the “Kicker”.
Who is the favorite for the coaching position at FC Bayern?
It is clear who will not be the new Bayern coach: Leverkusen master coach Xabi Alonso, Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß and Julian Nagelsmann. Nagelsmann, who said goodbye prematurely and in anger a year ago, decided against the publicly hotly debated option of a sensational return to Bayern. He wants to lead the national team to new successes. Jürgen Klopp, who Bayern took part in many years ago, would like to take a break after his time in Liverpool. Who is currently in pole position in Eberl’s search can only be publicly speculated.
What about a temporary solution?
This is also being considered, although it is not the desired option. “We want to have a coach who will accompany Bayern Munich in the long term,” said Eberl. “We want to build continuity. That is a crucial fact in order to be successful.” One pro of this surprising variant: Alonso, Klopp or Sebastian Hoeneß are likely to be back on the market in a year. Contra: A classic transition year would be highly unusual for a club of FC Bayern’s caliber. Especially when the Champions League final is in Munich in 2025. Candidates for such an interim solution could be Favre or Flick. Favre and Eberl know each other well from their years in Gladbach. Flick celebrated historic successes at FC Bayern.
Why doesn’t Thomas Tuchel continue as coach when things are going so well?
The club and coach have positioned themselves unwaveringly: the collaboration with Tuchel will end this summer instead of next. “I have an agreement with the club, it has been communicated and it stands,” confirmed Tuchel. When asked about this, Eberl also weighed it down.
What about Zinedine Zidane?
In terms of reputation, the world football star and former Real Madrid coach fits in with any top club. And just the thought that the Frenchman will end up leading the team alongside Bayern legend Franck Ribéry makes fans’ hearts beat faster. But the 51-year-old is not a likely solution, for linguistic reasons alone. The new trainer should ideally speak German, but at least speak English well.
Which surprising variants are being discussed?
The longer it takes until completion, the more new names come into conversation. After Favre and Demichelis, who has now been brought into play by Lothar Matthäus, there will certainly be other candidates. The former Bayern professional Demichelis was a youth and amateur coach in Munich before working at River Plate. The name of Roger Schmidt, formerly of Bayer Leverkusen and now Benfica Lisbon, also came up again and again.