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Jupp Heynckes is a Bayern Munich great, no matter what his future holds

By Caiden Berry

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - JANUARY 12: Head coach Jupp Heynckes of Muenchen gestures during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Muenchen at BayArena on January 12, 2018 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images)
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - JANUARY 12: Head coach Jupp Heynckes of Muenchen gestures during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Muenchen at BayArena on January 12, 2018 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images) /
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Bayern Munich have had nothing but success since Jupp Heynckes returned as interim manager for the ’17-18 season, causing many fans to want him to stay well beyond this season.

In a recent interview, Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness expressed his desire for Jupp Heynckes to stay on as Bayern’s manager past the ’17-18 season. Hoeness compared the possible retention of the seasoned manager’s service as “getting six numbers in the lottery plus the jackpot.”

However, since the beginning of his most recent tenure at the club, Heynckes has been very adamant about serving only as an interim manager for the remainder of the season. But with the success, consistent form, and increased team chemistry Bayern Munich have found under Jupp, is there a chance we see a couple more seasons with Heynckes at the helm?

Heynckes spent a majority of his playing career at fellow Bundesliga team Borussia Monchengladbach, where the now veteran manager found abundant success, netting 220 league goals, placing him as the third highest goalscorer in the history of the league.

As a player, Heynckes also holds a UEFA cup win, a DFB Pokal win, and four Bundesliga titles. After the ’77-78 season, Heynckes retired from competitive play and immediately began his managerial career at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Over the course of 39 years, Heynckes has found an abundance of success as a manager, leading nine separate clubs (including four different stints at Bayern Munich from 1987-1991, 2009, 2011-2013 and the current season) with a 643-283-318 record, making him one of the most decorated managers in history throughout Germany, Spain and Portugal. This success, of course, is highlighted by his Treble win with Bayern Munich during the ’12-13 campaign, during which Bayern Munich won its most recent Champions League title.

A legend returns

The second Heynckes stepped in as manager, his impact was immediately evident. Following a 3-0 embarrassment at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stage, Heynckes took over and has led the Bavarians to 23 wins with only 1 loss in all competitions.

The squad has found its form, rekindled its chemistry and put itself back into the conversation of Champions League contenders. Quite possibly the most impressive though, is how Bayern Munich is now 18-points clear at the top of the table well into the Ruckrunde.

After an impressive 3-1 win against PSG, avenging the embarrassment felt and destroying speculation of the quality of play Bayern actually can put out with its current squad, it would have been extremely difficult to find a Bayern fan or member alike who wouldn’t push for the continuation of Jupp Heynckes’ managerial tenure at Munich.

Should Jupp stay or should he go?

On multiple occasions the question of whether or not Heynckes will stay has arisen. These comments first started to come up around late November, when speculation of Heynckes’ future with Bayern first started to run its course after the team’s success had been noted by the rest of Europe and the world.

At that time, Heynckes stated plainly that he would not be staying on as manager, to which Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge accepted for what it was. But Uli Hoeness has not been so accepting. The Bayern Munich president continually insists that Heynckes remaining on board is the club’s only plan for the future.

It seems evident that Jupp does plan on retiring after the season ends, though. That’s what he originally stated and agreed upon. But in the event of a treble win, or a close run at a treble win, we could possibly see the 72-year-old manager change his mind. Now this is just speculation on my end, but there is no way of telling as of now what type of situation could arise for Heynckes if Bayern continue with the success they have found as of late.

Next: Thomas Tuchel tipped as Jupp Heynckes successor at Bayern Munich

But only time will tell if the German legend will stay at Bayern Munich past the ’17-18 season. For now, Bayern fans can sit back and enjoy the success that Heynckes has brought back to the club after what was one of the more disappointing starts to a season in recent history. Either way, any Bayern Munich supporter can only feel appreciation and gratitude for the quality that Heynckes has brought back to the club.