Bayern Munich: Roberto De Zerbi emerges as alternative to Xabi Alonso

After the appointment of Max Eberl as the new Bayern Munich board member of sport, the search for a new head coach is expected to accelerate. The Bavarian club has already announced Thomas Tuchel’s departure at the end of the season.

Die Roten have reportedly identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso as the top target to replace Tuchel. The Spanish coach is gaining plaudits across Europe for his phenomenal work at Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso is well on track to lift Bayer Leverkusen's first Bundesliga title as they lead Bayern by eight points in the league table.

Even though Alonso has a past connection with Bayern, bringing him to Munich will not be straightforward. Liverpool are also interested in Alonso as the successor of Jurgen Klopp. The German coach will step down from his position at the end of the season. Alonso is reportedly favouring a move to Liverpool over Bayern.

In such a scenario, Die Roten will have to explore other options. According to Sky Sports, Brighton’s Robert De Zerbi is an alternative option for Bayern if they fail to sign Xabi Alonso. The Italian head coach has done an impressive job at Brighton since replacing Graham Potter in 2022.

De Zerbi has helped Brighton punch above their weight in the Premier League. He has overseen wins over top Premier League clubs during his time at the club and helped Brighton reach the semi-final of the FA Cup. The Italian coach can implement an attractive style of football. He also gets the best out of young players, making him one of Europe's most coveted coaches.

Bayern will face competition from FC Barcelona for De Zerbi. The Spanish club has been heavily linked with the Italian coach over the last few weeks. Since Xavi has already announced his departure from Barcelona at the end of the season, the Catalan club will be in the market for a new coach.

De Zerbi certainly ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to the type of coach needed at Bayern. The only thing that counts against him is his lack of experience working with big personalities in the dressing room. He will have to carefully navigate through the dynamics of the dressing room at Die Roten to keep players on his side and help the team enjoy success on the pitch.

Brighton will look to get a hefty compensation for De Zerbi since his current deal expires in 2026. The next few weeks will give more clarity about Die Roten’s search for a new head coach, as they ideally want a deal in place by the end of the season.