Thomas Tuchel to leave Bayern Munich at season’s end
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Thomas Tuchel led Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title last season on the final matchday.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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BERLIN – Bayern Munich will part ways with coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, despite the German’s contract expiring in 2025, the club announced on Feb 21.
The Bavarian side are in danger of a first trophyless season since 2011-2012. They have lost their last three games in all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat by Lazio in last week’s Champions League
“In a good, open discussion, we came to the decision to end our working relationship by mutual agreement in the summer,” said Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen.
“Our goal is to pursue a new footballing direction with a new head coach for the 2024-25 season. Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga.
“I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard.
“In the Champions League in particular, after losing 1-0 in the first leg at Lazio, we are convinced we will reach the quarter-finals at a packed Allianz Arena with our fans behind us.”
Tuchel said: “We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season.
“Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success.”
The former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea boss had taken over in March 2023 from Julian Nagelsmann and led the German giants to last season’s Bundesliga title on the final matchday.
This season, however, the 11-time consecutive league champions have not shown the form that saw them dominate German football for the past decade.
Tuchel’s first full season at Bayern has been hit by injuries to some key players. The 50-year-old said at the start of the campaign that he has a relatively thin squad, despite the arrival of Bundesliga record signing Harry Kane.
Football insider Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, has said that Bayern are keen on appointing Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso but they will face competition from Liverpool, whose manager Jurgen Klopp has decided to step down at the end of this campaign.
Alonso, who has done a remarkable job since taking the Leverkusen job in October 2022, is contracted until June 2026.
The 42-year-old, who played for Bayern and Liverpool, is now one of the most sought-after young coaches in Europe.
He steered his team out of the relegation zone in his first season in charge and to a sixth-placed finish.
Leverkusen are unbeaten after 32 games in all competitions and are flying high at the top of the German standings. REUTERS
