Massive crisis for the record champions
FC Bayern decides to let Thomas Tuchel go at the end of the season
February 21, 2024, 10:18 a.m
Three defeats in a row, the prospect of the first titleless season in ages: FC Bayern is facing upheaval. The record football champions have already announced the departure of coach Thomas Tuchel after the season.
Thomas Tuchel took over at FC Bayern in March 2023, and less than twelve months later, the end of the controversial coach is already a done deal: the Munich team will part ways with the 50-year-old and his contract at the end of the current season should run until 2025. The record champions announced this. “Our goal is to carry out a sporting realignment with a new coach for the 2024/25 season,” CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen is quoted in the statement: “Until then, every single person in the club is expressly required to play in the Champions League and “To achieve the maximum possible in the Bundesliga.”
Tuchel himself said: “We have agreed that we will end our collaboration after this season. Until then, I and my coaching team will of course continue to do everything we can to achieve maximum success.” This was preceded by three defeats in a row for Bayern. Nothing is known about a possible successor from summer onwards.
Tuchel succeeded Julian Nagelsmann in March 2023 and signed a contract until June 30, 2025. In the 2022/23 season, Munich under Tuchel were eliminated in the DFB Cup against SC Freiburg and in the Champions League against eventual winners Manchester City, but in the end they celebrated the German championship in an exciting finish ahead of Borussia, at least at the last minute Dortmund.
Lots of injuries and lots of other problems
The current season threatens to be the first without a title since the 2011/12 season. In the cup, the Munich team was eliminated by third division team 1. FC Saarbrücken. In the round of 16 of the Champions League, FC Bayern must make up for a 0-1 defeat in the first leg at Lazio Rome in order to reach the quarter-finals on March 5th. In the fight for the championship, Bayer Leverkusen is far ahead of Munich. Coach Xabi Alonso’s Werkself secured a clear 3-0 win in a direct duel in mid-February. Alonso played for FC Bayern from 2014 to 2017 and is an interesting coaching candidate for several top clubs.
The 50-year-old Tuchel has suffered many injuries in his star ensemble this season. On the other hand, the still top-class team disappointed too often. The tactical and personnel changes in the past games were unsuccessful. There was a lot of professional praise for Tuchel, but there were also disagreements with one or two stars. Tuchel repeatedly pointed out the discrepancy between performances in games and in training.
Tuchel continues to try to bring the season to a successful end after repeated setbacks. The Bayern bosses absolutely want to avoid a separation in the middle of the season like with Nagelsmann. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen has ruled out an early separation after the 2:3 against Bochum.