Big clubs looking: the coaching carousel in Europe is turning

Since Wednesday it has been clear: Tuchel’s time at Bayern Munich is over and the cooperation between both parties will come to an end in the summer. The former ideal candidate, for whom the ‘multi-year project’ Julian Nagelsmann (36, contract until 2026) was chased away by the judge, failed miserably within eleven months. The record champions, who are used to success, are heading into their first titleless season since 2012.

Still, many clubs will probably rub their hands after the report. Because with Tuchel, an experienced, successful coach will soon be without a job. As the British radio station ‘Talksport’ reports, Premier League team West Ham sees Tuchel as a potential successor to coach David Moyes (60). According to Sport Bild, Manchester United is also an option if Erik ten Hag (54) has to leave his post. Tuchel, it is said, has always wanted to work as a coach for the “Red Devils”. But Barcelona also offers itself as a next destination, as Tuchel is said to be a self-confessed admirer of Catalan football and fascinated by La Masia’s youth academy.

In 2021, the German coached Chelsea to the Champions League title. Will Tuchel return to the island? Or perhaps to the warmth of Barcelona? First, Tuchel wants to concentrate on the end of the season at Bayern, then there must be clarity about his future.

But who will actually take over the vacant job in Munich? Xabi Alonso is considered the crown favorite. The Spaniard, who is riding the wave of success with Leverkusen this season and is still unbeaten in a record 32 games, would be the absolutely logical solution.

Probably the most romantic football option for Alonso: staying in Leverkusen. However, it is difficult to imagine that the current season can hardly be surpassed with three possible titles. A new challenge and confirmation of his skills at one of his favorite clubs is more likely.

But: According to Sport Bild, Alonso has built a special clause into his contract that will allow him to play for the Werkself next summer for one of his former clubs – namely Liverpool (2004-2009), Real Madrid (2009-2014). and Bavaria (2014-2017) – to leave. The Royals are out of the window with the extension of cult coach Carlo Ancelotti (64). In addition to Munich, this leaves Liverpool.

Keyword Liverpool. As is known, the coaching position will become available in the summer after the nine-year Klopp era. However, people only talk about his successor, but not about where Klopp will recruit next. Because: The German is taking a sabbatical. The announcement of Tuchel’s dismissal and the rumors that had already arisen about a commitment to Bayern even caused Klopp’s agent to reconfirm this break.

One person who has certainly had plenty of free time is Zinedine Zidane. The four-time Champions League winner (2002 as a player, 2016-2018 as a coach) makes no secret of the fact that he wants to start coaching again in 2021 after his (second) dismissal from Real Madrid. The French national team, with which the former world champion became world champion in 1998, would be his first choice, but there is (for the time being) another successful coach in Didier Deschamps (55). Other options he should not be averse to: Bayern Munich and former club Juventus (1996-2001).

Since his dismissal from the DFB in September last year, Hansi Flick has been without a coaching job. But back to Bayern, with whom he won the historic six-fold in 2020? No desire. As transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports, the German is said to be considering a job at FC Barcelona and a new challenge abroad.

But Flick would be welcomed with open arms in Catalonia. Ilkay Gündogan (33), elected captain of the German national team under Flick, says: “I can say that Hansi is not only a great person with a great character, but also a great coach.”

But Flick is not the only one eager for the position in the Spanish metropolis. The 44-year-old Italian has been coach of Premier League club Brighton since September 2022 and led the southern English team to sixth place last season and thus to the Europa League.

According to the Spanish newspaper AS, Roberto De Zerbi would be the absolute preferred candidate for the Barça management. However, at the time of this report, Tuchel was not yet on the market…

But what about Xavi, who, with his dismissal in the summer, is also partly responsible for the changing coaching carousel at Barça? With his fierce swipes at management and the media, with the Spanish club legend revealing he was suffering under pressure to perform, it is highly likely he will take a break.

Will ‘Josef Mourinho’ soon be on the sidelines in Germany? According to rumors, the Portuguese star coach (two-time Champions League winner) is already learning German and is offering himself as Tuchel’s successor! The question is whether the problem Bayern will get a problem coach. Since his dismissal from Roma at the beginning of this year, ‘The Special One’ has been looking for a job. Another (lucrative) option: a commitment to Saudi Arabia.

Since his emotional departure from Union Berlin, it has become quite quiet around the Swiss coach. Certainly, after the wild ride of the past few months as Union coach – with fourteen defeats in a row – the 58-year-old is treating himself to a well-deserved break from the football world.

Speculation continues about Fischer’s future. Especially in Bern, the Züricher is being looked at, who should be the successor to Raphael Wicky (46) at YB. However, Fischer’s name is also mentioned in Wolfsburg – or is there even a bigger club knocking at the beloved coach’s door? Fischer’s future will soon be secure.

Not to be forgotten is of course Julian Nagelsmann, who was fired from Bayern last March. However, due to his tenure with the DFB, he is unlikely to be on the big clubs’ wish list at the moment. His contract as national coach runs until July 31, 2024 – the future will likely depend on the Germans’ performance at the European Championship at home.

According to ‘Bild’, the Italian coach describes Bayern Munich as ‘one of the three best clubs in Europe’, underlining his ambitions to join the German record champions.

After the English championship (Chelsea) and the Italian championship (Juventus and Inter Milan), Conte now wants to win the German championship. Most recently he was under contract with Tottenham, where he worked with, among others, the two Bayern professionals Harry Kane (30) and Eric Dier (30). As with Zidane and Mourinho – who are now at school – the lack of knowledge of German is likely to be a negative.

In the 1999 Champions League final, the Norwegian sent Bayern Munich into misery with a 2-1 winning goal in the third minute of extra time. Now the former Man Utd player and coach should be an option for Bayern. However, Solskjaer has offered to step into the breach if Tuchel is sacked immediately. However, it is hardly considered a long-term solution.