Bayern Munich chief backs under fire Hasan Salihamidzic
![GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 22: Hasan Salihamidzic of Bayern Muenchen looks on prior the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Veltins-Arena on September 22, 2018 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 22: Hasan Salihamidzic of Bayern Muenchen looks on prior the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Veltins-Arena on September 22, 2018 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7854b1dfe3e366d6b2c1ba42fad5c09f090d698fa28c9e60501fdce369a740f5.jpg)
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has backed Hasan Salihamidzic to be a successful sporting director at the club.
There will be no major changes to Bayern Munich’s administration anytime soon, as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness were both recently re-elected to their posts as CEO and President of the club. The veteran duo will lead the squad’s transformation over the next year.
Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, though, will be a key man in the recruitment process in the upcoming transfer windows. The former Bayern player has been subject to heavy criticism in the German media for his performance as sporting director. He has been criticized for being a passive figure in the Bavarian hierarchy.
Speaking to Kicker (via Bild) this week, Rummenigge defended Salihamidzic and backed him to overhaul this transition of the Bayern squad in a perfect manner. He further added that the club is working hard to secure some moves in the upcoming winter windows.
"“Hasan is incredibly hard-working, incredibly agile, and – I like that – when a transfer opens, he is like the young Uli Hoeness on the prowl and will not let up. That’s why I think he’ll be successful here.“We are planning some things we will do in the transfer market. Whether that will be in the winter break, or whether we postpone that to the summer – you have to see if anything turns up.”"
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Bayern operated without a sporting director for some time after Matthias Sammer’s departure. Philipp Lahm was heavily linked with this post after he announced his retirement at the end of the 2016-17 season, but he admitted he is not yet ready to work in this position. Bayern surprised everyone by announcing Salihamidzic at the start of last season.
Brazzo has negotiated very few deals at Bayern, as the club has preferred to remain largely inactive in recent transfer windows. His work is going to increase significantly soon, as Bayern search for successors for Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
Die Roten are also likely to upgrade their defensive personnel as Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels are on a steady decline.
Rummenigge also spoke about various other topics in his long interview with Kicker. He admitted that Bayern would like to involve Oliver Kahn and Xabi Alonso in the administration of the club in the future. The former has been tipped to take a top position in the club, while the latter is more likely to return to the club in a coaching position.
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Bayern Munich ended 2018 on a perfect note Saturday, and they are now firmly in the title race after five consecutive wins in the Bundesliga. Niko Kovac still has a massive task ahead of him in the second half of the season. Bayern are not used to ending a season trophiless, and though they have won the DFL Supercup, bigger trophies are expected from them on a yearly basis.