After rumours swirled for weeks, it is now being widely reported that Bayern Munich and their manager Thomas Tuchel will part ways at the end of the season. Betting markets have responded rapidly, and the bookmakers are tipping Xabi Alonso to succeed Tuchel.
Next Bayern Munich manager – latest news
Embattled Bayern
Bayern Munich were widely praised for their summer transfer window. Konrad Laimer and Raphael Guerreiro were brought in on free transfers from RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund respectively. These were classic Bayern moves – weakening their rivals by taking their best players. Harry Kane and Kim Min-Jae were both blockbuster moves that upgraded Bayern’s quality in both boxes.
But Bayern are now facing the prospect of going trophyless for just the fourth time in their history. Saarbrücken shocked the footballing world by eliminating them in the DFB Pokal’s second round. Bayer Leverkusen are galloping clear atop the Bundesliga, and Lazio defeated them in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
Tuchel’s travails
For all the praise of Bayern’s business, Tuchel was not shy in voicing his disappointment that the club did not sign a natural number six. Bayern’s move for Joao Palhinha was minutes too late, and the Portuguese destroyer stayed at Fulham.
Tuchel is not happy with Bayern’s options in deep midfield, and raised eyebrows in German football by asserting that Joshua Kimmich was “not a six”. The former Chelsea boss’s man management has also been questioned, with senior players reportedly questioning his tactics and decision making.
With frustration on both sides, a mutual separation seems the most sensible arrangement.
Next Bayern Munich manager – latest odds
Xabi Alonso – 3/1
Bayer Leverkusen’s astonishing success has been one of the biggest stories in European football this season… at Bayern’s expense.
And in true Bayern Munich fashion, the Bavarian giants have reportedly made their young manager, Xabi Alonso, their number one target. Alonso’s side are unbeaten in all competitions in 2023/24 and play superb football.
Alonso has history with Bayern too. The legendary midfielder spent his twilight years at the club, brought to the club by Pep Guardiola. He won three Bundesliga titles with Bayern.
The biggest obstacle Bayern face is convincing Alonso to join them over any of his other potential suitors, most principally Liverpool. Bayern will also have to assure the 42-year-old that the club is a stable place to be, after having gotten through four managers in five seasons.
Jose Mourinho – 7/1
Where there is a high profile vacancy, there will be links to the inimitable Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager first made a splash 20 years ago when he guided Porto to their only Champions League win.
He has since won another Champions League, the Europa League, Conference League and eight domestic league titles, as well as a vast array of cups. Mourinho would be determined to prove himself in yet another European league, as he has not managed in the Bundesliga before.
Mourinho is a proven winner, that much is certain. But given how acrimoniously his last four jobs have ended, there are serious questions to be asked of the 61-year-old, and if his approach is fit for the 2020s.
Mourinho is also tipped as a potential new manager at West Ham.
Zinedine Zidane – 9/1
Another man perennially linked to the biggest jobs in football management is Zinedine Zidane. The French icon has only actually managed Real Madrid, but won two league titles and three Champions Leagues.
If Zidane could be persuaded (which is not a foregone conclusion), the success of his tenure would likely be determined by the similarity of the Bayern squad to the one he had at Real Madrid in terms of quality.
When at the Bernabeu, Zidane had a laissez-faire approach to coaching, allowing the players to come up with solutions independently on the pitch, relying on their technical quality, experience, intuition and intelligence. Though Bayern’s squad does boast some very talented players, they are not at the same level as Real Madrid between 2016 and 2021.
Zidane would immediately command the respect of the Bayern players, but he would need to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances.
Jurgen Klopp – 10/1
The unlikeliest manager rated at 10/1 or lower, in our view, is Jurgen Klopp. The Liverpool boss has said that he is looking to spend a year or two living “a normal life” after an intense yet dazzling near-nine seasons on Merseyside.
Klopp also has a deep connection to Borussia Dortmund, having managed them between 2008 and 2015. The passionate German forges deep connections to the clubs he manages and would likely not want to betray his former club.
That said, stranger things have happened in football. And as mentioned above, Bayern do have a habit of creaming the top of their rivals’ crop.
