There isn’t much time for the upcoming new sports director at FC Bayern to get used to it. On the contrary, Max Eberl, who was born in Lower Bavaria, will be directly challenged. On Monday evening he was confirmed in his new position at a supervisory board meeting of FC Bayern Munich, and he will take up the post on March 1st.
The construction sites that are waiting for the former Leipzig resident are large – and, above all, urgent. The Munich team has high hopes for their new signing, who will have to carry out the biggest change in decades at FC Bayern. Recently, those in charge have outdone themselves with advance praise for Eberl; they also see the returnee (Eberl played in Bavaria’s youth teams as a footballer) as a savior who should put the club back on a solid footing. CEO Dreesen believes: “I have already said that more competence and more quality in management can only do us good.”
The coach: Can Eberl convince Alonso?
Since last week it has become clear what has long been an open secret. FC Bayern is ending the chapter with coach Thomas Tuchel early and needs a new coach from the summer. It will be Eberl’s job to convince the preferred candidate of the 33-time champion’s new path. At the top of the list is Xabi Alonso, even if FCB CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen did not want to comment on the personnel. “It makes no sense to speculate about the new coach now,” he said in an interview with “BILD”: “We have to look at every good coach and then hopefully find the best one for us that we can get in the summer .”
Those responsible are hoping that this will bring more peace to the coaching chair, which recently became an ejector seat: after Pep Guardiola, no trainer fulfilled his contract at Säbener Straße. None stayed longer than two years. For Tuchel, it will be over in the summer after less than two seasons – just like his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann. CEO Dreesen has also recognized this: “We want more continuity in the coaching chair. That’s what we’re striving for.”
Alonso himself remains silent about his future and prefers to concentrate on the championship fight with Bayer Leverkusen. He will probably be spoiled for choice in the summer. In addition to Munich, the coaching chair will also be available in Barcelona and Liverpool (where Jürgen Klopp is leaving). With a return to Anfield Road, the Spaniard, who played for the Reds between 2004 and 2009, would take over Jürgen Klopp’s well-maintained club. But completely others have failed because of the legacy of the charismatic Swabian. In Munich, Alonso would probably be part of an XXL upheaval.
The players: XXL change at FC Bayern is probably imminent
“We have to sit down at the end of the season and analyze: What’s going on, why are we not playing so well?” explained Hainer. “Is it just the coach or do we have to change something in the team too.” After the reorganization of the coaching position has already been announced, those responsible have also answered the latter with a clear yes, according to a report by “Kicker”.
Five players, independent of Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr, whose contracts expire at the end of the season, should therefore leave the club. According to the trade magazine, the future on Säbener Straße is being discussed by twelve players. That sounds like tabula rasa for the record champions. Only a few players were able to promote themselves this season. It’s also about establishing a new winning gene, because the old one seems to have been lost by the former class leader.
Eberl must find the personnel who can embody this. He has already succeeded very well in Leipzig this summer. Even during his time in Mönchengladbach, the native of Lower Bavaria managed to put together a more than competitive squad with comparatively limited resources. Under his aegis, the Foals experienced their most successful period in the last 20 years – they were regular guests in the Champions League.
The stars: What’s next for Sané, Davies and Co?
In Munich, however, the task becomes much more difficult. Only the contracts of the rotation players Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr as well as winter signing Eric Dier expire this summer. The situation will be different in 2025. Then the working papers of Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sané and Alphonso Davies will end. With Neuer and Müller, Eberl doesn’t have to worry that they could be poached by the competition. This is more about the question of when to send the well-deserved but now 37 or 34 year old identification figures into retirement.
With Kimmich, Sané and Davies, half of Europe is in wait. According to media reports, Davies is likely to succumb to Real Madrid’s lure. The chances of a contract extension are probably rather slim – especially since extension talks started with former board member Hasan Salihamidžić. After his resignation, the Davies side probably reacted a bit sniffily.
Guardiola interest in Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich, who is looking for some form this season, is also said to be in demand in Europe. Pep Guardiola is said to be very interested in guiding his ex-protégé to Manchester City. Paris Saint-Germain is also said to be interested in Kimmich. And the future is also open for Leroy Sané, who started the season furiously but recently got a bit out of step. Since he moved to Munich in 2020, he has never been able to consistently deliver his performance. He won the championship three times with the record champions, but never the DFB Cup or the Champions League. It’s not out of the question that he’ll be looking for a change of scenery at the age of 28.
Eberl has to moderate all of this. He will not only be in demand professionally, but also personally. Ultimately, it’s also about stroking the egos of some injured stars and convincing them to stay in Munich. A lot of work awaits the Savior.