After the departure of Niko Kovac, here are the top five best candidates for the next manager at Bayern Munich.
1. Jurgen Klopp
The most ambitious option, but possibly the best managerial candidate for Bayern Munich. Klopp is currently the best manager in the world. Rekordmeister was keeping a close eye on him during his time at Borussia Dortmund. However, he was already a Liverpool manager when Pep Guardiola left Bayern at the end of the 2015/16 campaign.
Klopp fits the profile of what Bayern needs right now. His astute recruitment at Liverpool says all about his eye for talent in the transfer market. Moreover, he can improve the young players steadily and make them a vital member of the first-team squad. Klopp’s man-management is not disruptive as he knows how to manage a dressing room full of stars.
The German manager slowly built his team at Liverpool to challenge for big trophies. He is reaping the rewards now as the English club is defending European champions. They remain on track to win their first Premier League title this season. Klopp is achieving these results by playing a good style of football.
Bayern is also in transition right now as they are building a team that can compete for trophies in the present and future. Klopp will be the ideal coach to spearhead this transition and steadily improve the team’s style of play. It will be difficult to prise him from Liverpool next summer, but stranger things have previously happened in football.
Likelihood of happening– 2/5
2. Thomas Tuchel
Bayern Munich missed out on the opportunity to appoint Thomas Tuchel in 2017/18. The German club had sacked Carlo Ancelotti but took longer to contact Tuchel. By the time they approached Tuchel, he had reportedly agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain.
Tuchel didn’t make an as good impact as Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, but his impressive coaching skills were visible on the pitch during his solitary season at the club. Since then, he has taken a year sabbatical and joined PSG at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.
The French club did well domestically but suffered a disappointing defeat against Manchester United in the Round of 16 of the Champions League. PSG decided to keep faith in him as the style of play was impressive, and there were genuine signs of progress. Tuchel has improved the team even further this campaign as the French club looks an early favourite for the Champions League.
There are no doubts about Tuchel’s tactical acumen. His style of play also ticks the box for Die Roten. However, his volatile relationship with BVB’s sporting director may put off decision-makers at Bayern. If Bayern manages to convince him to get him next summer, then there are many reasons for the Bavarians to get excited.
Likelihood of happening– 3/5
3. Mauricio Pochettino
Hasan Salihamidzic is reportedly in favor of appointing Mauricio Pochettino as the next Bayern manager. The Argentine has been previously linked with Die Roten. As per the latest reports in England, Pochettino is likely to leave Tottenham Hotspurs in summer.
Spurs have made remarkable progress under Pochettino in the last five years. The English club was involved in two title races and came close to winning the Champions League last season. He is yet to win a trophy in London, but his progress on the pitch cannot be just quantified in trophies.
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The Argentine has completely changed the mentality of the club, and they now regularly finish in the top four of the Premier League. Moreover, Pochettino’s impressive work at Spurs has come under stringent budgets. Unlike other top clubs in England, Spurs have spent the least amount of money in the last five seasons.
Pochettino has a good record of developing young players and slowly integrate them into the first team. His gameplan also varies as per the opponent, but his overall philosophy does include an expansive style of football.
The most pressing issue is his in-game management. Pochettino struggles to make an impact on the game from the touchline when things are going against his team. Bayern will have to pay over the odds to sign Pochettino next summer. Spurs chief Daniel Levy will not allow a top manager that has many years left on the contract to leave the club without a record fee.
Likelihood of happening– 3/5
4. Erik Ten Hag
Erik Ten Hag is the most heavily linked manager with Bayern Munich over the last six months. He has caught the eyes of top clubs across Europe with his work at Ajax. The Dutch club defeated the likes of Juventus and Real Madrid last season to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Ten Hag worked wonders with young players at Ajax and continued the club’s tradition of playing total football. He also managed to get the best out of older players such as Daley Blind and Dusan Tadic last season. Tadic was one of the most pleasing success stories of the 2019/20 season.
The Dutch manager has previously worked at Bayern. He managed the reserves team during Pep Guardiola’s time in Bavaria. This experience surely gives him the upper hand over other candidates as he knows the club inside out. Moreover, he will have a good mix of young players and senior players to his disposal at Bayern.
Ten Hag also remains the most realistic option on this list as the Dutchman is open to returning to Bavaria. Ajax is not likely to stand in his way and allow him to leave in summer. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted at the start of the current campaign that Bayern should play attractive football along with winning trophies. Ten Hag satisfied both these conditions at Ajax, but it remains to be seen whether he can meet the same objectives at a big club.
Likelihood of happening-4/5
5. Julian Nagelsmann
Bayern Munich missed out on Tuchel and Klopp in this decade. The Bavarians will like to avoid the same mistake again by missing out on Julian Nagelsmann. After an impressive three-year spell at Hoffenheim, Nagelsmann joined RB Leipzig in summer.
The 30-year-old manager is considered as one of the best young managers in the world. He made sure that Hoffenheim always punched above their weight in the Bundesliga. The German guided the club to a top-four position in the 2016/17 season.
Nagelsmann has continued to carry forward his philosophy at Leipzig. The German club has been an exciting team to watch this season as they sit ahead of Bayern in the table. He has implemented an attacking template at Leipzig in just five months at the club.
The German manager is known for improving young players. Timo Werner has found his goalscoring touch under Nagelsmann. Serge Gnabry also had a fine time under the German manager during his one-year loan spell at Hoffenheim.
There is no doubt that Nagelsmann satisfies all the conditions that Bayern will like to see in their manager. However, negotiating with RB Leipzig may turn out to be difficult considering Nagelsmann has just arrived at the club.
Likelihood of happening– 3/5
These were the top five managerial candidates that Bayern Munich should be looking in summer. If you have any other manager in mind that fits the bill, then mention it in the comments section.