Bayern Munich and Liverpool FC are looking for a new coach – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There will be big moves from big names in the summer.
So far only one thing is clear: Xabi Alonso is staying at Bayer Leverkusen and has therefore said goodbye to the coaching carousel. The Spaniard was courted by FC Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but announced last week that he wanted to continue to lead the “Werkself”. The search continues after Jürgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool in January and Bayern announced Thomas Tuchel’s exit after the season a little later.
Eberl has several candidates for FC Bayern
Max Eberl, sports director of the German record champions, is publicly asked several times a week for water level reports when looking for a coach – but he has not yet been given any specific information. Eberl recently said that there were many candidates and that there were “also unusual ideas on the list.” It is also the case that “some of our candidates also have a different club,” said Eberl.
The fact is: a top club is looking for a top coach. Whether that is Rodrigo de Zerbi, who is currently convincing at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League and is said to have a release clause. Or Julian Nagelsmann, whose contract as national coach ends after the European Championships and who could return to Bayern after the duo Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic, who fired him in March 2023, are gone. Or José Mourinho, who is currently without a job. Or even Xavi, who will quit FC Barcelona in the summer.
Even big names like Löw, Flick and Zidane without a job
All of these names and many more can also play a role in Liverpool’s search for a Klopp successor. The searchers (which will also include Barca if Xavi can’t be changed) are such attractive clubs that they can lure ambitious coaches out of their current contracts – a coaching carousel of superlatives is in the offing. Because supply and demand coincide to a large extent. And at the highest level.
This also includes Tuchel, whose future after Bavaria is completely open. Joachim Löw and Hansi Flick are also traded by clubs from time to time and could suddenly become a big surprise at a top club. Zinedine Zidane is also on the market. The potential this summer is huge, the selection of extremely successful coaches is greater than ever, and now there are also the needs at big clubs.
Players also need certainty about their coaching future
Apart from Alonso’s cancellation, nothing is clear yet, but it is clear that a lot will happen. Liverpool and Munich will sign a new coach – and many things will follow from that. If you sign a coach who has just been hired, his current club needs a successor. If Nagelsmann re-signs with a club, the German national team needs a new man on the line. And and and.
For many years, the big time of speculation began in spring as to which players could move to which clubs. Now, however, the coaches are likely to be the big issue – especially since they have a huge influence on player transfers.
An example: FC Bayern is currently trying to get Alphonso Davies to sign a contract. His agent Nick Huoseh recently emphasized to “Bild”: “It’s a very important contract in Alphonso’s career and we should make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team will look like. That’s why we will “We will decide at the end of the season what happens next when there is more clarity.”
In 2025 the carousel will continue to turn
This situation currently prevails in many places. But particularly large coaching jobs appear to be vacant in the future – the coaching carousel will continue to rotate at the highest level after this summer. For example, there are initial media reports that Pep Guardiola wants to quit Manchester City in 2025. Then not only would a top club be looking, but also a top coach (after a break?) would be on the market. Like Klopp, who is taking a break after this season.