Curious situation about coaching candidate
De Zerbi disillusioned FC Bayern, but they don’t have a chance
May 18, 2024, 10:42 a.m
Roberto De Zerbi doesn’t want to leave the Premier League. But he is being criticized by his club Brighton & Hove Albion and may even be facing elimination. This is one of the reasons why he is still being discussed by FC Bayern, who are desperately looking for Thomas Tuchel’s successor.
Roberto De Zerbi, who was considered a possible successor to Thomas Tuchel at FC Bayern, has once again confirmed that he does not want to leave his club Brighton & Hove Albion. “If you ask me if there is any club that can change my mind: No, there isn’t one. I would like to stay in Brighton to achieve the highest possible goal every season,” the 44-year-old is told by The magazine Athletic” quoted. “But first we need to analyze the situation with Tony (Bloom, club owner), Paul (Barber, managing director) and David Weir (technical director).” De Zerbi’s contract in Brighton runs until summer 2026.
De Zerbi led the English first division club into the Europa League last season, but the club is only in tenth place in the Premier League before the last matchday on Sunday after recent weak performances. The Europa League ended in the round of 16. According to media reports, owner Bloom is planning a change in the coaching bench, and Thomas Frank from Brentford FC is said to be the top candidate. Regarding the transfer rumors surrounding him, De Zerbi continued: “When I say that there is no club that can change my idea, then I have always been honest, there is no club that stands behind me.”
The Italian will be grateful to Brighton boss Bloom for the rest of his life for bringing him to the Premier League. “We can disagree when it comes to the transfer market, goals or the organization of the club. But the owner is more important than the coach,” said De Zerbi: “The coach can say his opinion and I always want to say my opinion because I think I have the right to do that.”
De Zerbi was considered a coach at several top clubs, including FC Bayern. If he were to be an issue, according to the media, Bayern would receive a fee in the low double-digit million range. The Munich team is still looking for a successor for Tuchel, who is now finally leaving the club in the summer. Before that, the signing of the Austrian team boss Ralf Rangnick, Xabi Alonso from champions Bayer Leverkusen and national coach Julian Nagelsmann in Munich had not worked out.