Bayern Munich made a trip to Paris to take on PSG in the UEFA Champions League group stage in midweek and not only did they come away with a 3-0 defeat, they also lost their manager. 58-year-old Italian Carlo Ancelotti was given the sack on the back of that result which clearly showed that under him, the club wasn’t likely going to be in a position to compete with Europe’s other elite in the tournament this season.
That was an early blow for the Bavarians who have placed former France international defence Willy Sagnol in temporary charge as they figure out what to do next. Bayern are the reigning Bundesliga champions, but after six games played of the new season find themselves in third place and having suffered a loss already as Hoffenheim struck them down. A club of Bayern’s stature generally attracts a big name, but are they about to change direction and take a gamble on 30-year-old Julian Nagelsmann, the current Hoffenheim boss?
Julien Nagelsmann 4/6
Nagelsmann is the 4/6 outright favourite at Ladbrokes to get the job, even though he is under contract with Hoffenheim. He is a Bavarian-born man, who knows that Bayern Munich would be his dream job. He has said as much. Despite his young age, what he has done with Hoffenheim in the last two seasons is remarkable. He kept them safe from relegation in the 2015/16 season and then in the 2016/17 season he drove them up to a fourth-placed finish.
This season they are unbeaten and sitting in second place behind Borussia Dortmund and Nagelsmann, with his intense, yet attractive style of football has already masterminded a 2-0 victory over Bayern this season in the Bundesliga. He was being touted as a replacement for Ancelotti in the summer, but what will Bayern Munich be able to do now their time frame has changed? Certainly, Hoffenheim aren’t going to want to lose the manager who has given them such an identity in the last two seasons.
Thomas Tuchel 7/4
Tuchel, the former Borussia Dortmund manager led BVB to the DFB-Pokal and was out of a job three days later in a wholeheartedly strange situation. But this is a man who many of Europe’s top clubs have had a look at, and following a move from Mainz to Dortmund, a move from Dortmund to Bayern would continue his managerial progression. Like Nagelsmann, he is a Bavarian as well and would feel comfortable at home with FC Hollywood. He will have appeal as he is currently out of work and ruled himself out of replacing Slaven Bilic at West Ham according to reports.
Other Contenders
Sagnol, a former French international doesn’t have the managerial experience that Tuchel has and only joined the Bayern staff back in June this year. He will at least get a chance to show what he can do as he temporarily takes charge of the club. Liverpool Jurgen Klopp is under a bit of pressure at Liverpool and could see a move back to Germany as an escape. The former Bayern boss is all about attack and the Bavarian club would know what they are getting from him. Is that what they want though? Ralph Hasenhuttl is an interesting name to consider because he has been on Bayern’s radar. Who is he? The man who got RB Leipzig to second place in the Bundesliga last season. Less than a year ago, Bayern president Uli Hoeness said that if Bayern were to look for a change, Hasenhuttl would be one of three German-speaking managers he’d consider. It’s a mystery who the other two are? Of the contenders, the out-of-work Tuchel ticks a lot of boxes.