In mid-February, FC Bayern decided: Thomas Tuchel will only remain in office until the end of the season. A new coach should get the German record champions back on track starting in the summer. How much the Munich team are off track after reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and whether the matter could perhaps become a boomerang if Bayern even win the premier class can only be debated and speculated about at the moment.
The fact is: The search for a coach is not only in full swing, it should also bring clarity by the end of April, as has been repeatedly seen recently. Things could now get tight. Because after Xabi Alonso made a commitment to Bayer Leverkusen a week ago, he also jumped on Friday Julian Nagelsmann away. The 36-year-old was recently considered the number one preferred candidate, but has now extended his contract as national coach with the DFB until 2026.
A successful poker
It’s quite clever how Volker Struth, Nagelsmann’s advisor, recently drove up his client’s price. Only two days ago, Struth publicly confirmed talks with Bayern. The DFB, which has been in a rosier financial situation since switching supplier from Adidas to Nike, is likely to have immediately intensified its efforts to recruit Nagelsmann. The result: Nagelsmann turned down Bayern.
The 36-year-old was officially quoted as saying: “This is a decision of the heart. It is a great honor to be able to coach the national team and work with the best players in the country.”
According to reports, this is also a great joy Ralf Rangnick in Austria. The 65-year-old is committed until 2026 and appreciates what he has at the ÖFB. A team that fits his game idea as well as a quiet working environment. And although according to KURIER information so far No request for the team boss from Munich has been received by the ÖFB, things could now become more turbulent for the Swabian.
Rangnick is one of the handful of candidates that Christoph Freund and Max Eberl are or have been working with. Who else is on Bayern’s shortlist alongside Austria’s team boss can of course only be speculated about, especially since Bayern have not officially commented on any of the names being traded.
Zidane is being brought into play by the Spanish media
Roberto de Zerbi, In any case, the ball possession guru from Italy and currently at Brighton & Hove has waved it off.
Meanwhile, there is a report from Spain that… Zinedine Zidane is in front of the door. The Frenchman also speaks Spanish and Italian, but less well English and not German.
In any case, there isn’t much time left. Especially not if it Rangnick and the team boss will concentrate on the European Championships for several weeks from the end of May.
