The preferred candidate remains at Bayer
Suddenly Rangnick comes into focus at FC Bayern
March 29, 2024, 3:12 p.m
At FC Bayern, the search for a new coach is currently outshining almost everything. One personnel appointment is now finally off the table: candidate Xabi Alonso is staying at Bayer Leverkusen. Squad planning also depends on the decision as to who will be on the sidelines in the future.
The desired solution has been fulfilled – now Max Eberl’s imagination is in demand more than ever. It is “FC Bayern’s duty to think everything through,” says the sports director, and that’s why: “Unusual ideas also appear on the list.” It would certainly be unusual for club legend Franck Ribery to return as an assistant alongside star coach Zinedine Zidane, which Bild is currently speculating about.
The rumor mill is bubbling in Munich – and offers something for every taste, from the Zidane/Ribery duo to Roberto De Zerbi and Ralf Rangnick. One thing is clear for the record champions before the top game on Saturday (6.30 p.m. on Sky and in the live ticker on ntv.de) against Borussia Dortmund at least that top candidate Xabi Alonso is not available. The Spaniard stays in Leverkusen.
Either way, the search for a successor to Thomas Tuchel is in full swing and is currently outshining almost everything at Bayern. Because the future of some stars will also depend on the new coach. There is therefore great pressure on Eberl to find the right man after a few mistakes in recent years – and quickly.
Eberl would like to find a trainer in April
“We’re starting April, it would be nice if we could do it in April without me telling myself that this is the ultimate day,” said Eberl on Sky. The decision should be made “as quickly as possible, but also as well as possible”: “We want to make the best decision.”
The 50-year-old made it clear how difficult this is. “Maybe it’s a coach who would be a perfect fit, but the conditions are so exorbitant that we say, okay, maybe that’s not a good fit at all.” It’s “not a quick fix where we say: ‘Big name is possible, it’s free, we’ll get him!'”
Bayern would have liked to bring Alonso. But already on Thursday, honorary president Uli Hoeneß described his commitment to BR24-Sport as “very difficult, not to say probably impossible”. He was right. That’s why the former Hoffenheim and Leipzig player Rangnick, currently Austria’s national coach, is the first alternative, reports the “Kicker”. The 65-year-old is said to have a close connection to Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund, previously at RB Salzburg. Rangnick (then Head of Sport and Development at RB) is said to have been in contact with Bayern five years ago. In addition, former coach Hansi Flick is currently being discussed at Bayern.
Zidane never really an issue?
With De Zerbi, who coaches Brighton & Hove Albion, there are doubts because of the language component. The Bayern bosses have already ruled out Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho. And Zidane, according to the “Kicker”, was never really an issue – just like the return of national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
An early decision would be so important for Bayern in order to move forward with their plans with regard to the squad. There are still many question marks – including stars like Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies. Eberl is now urging the Canadian: “Some stone has to fall. For me, the club is still the strong part.” Accordingly, it is “completely legitimate that you have to make a decision at some point, regardless of whether it is Alphonso Davies or another player.” FC Bayern will also have to decide at some point – for a new coach.