Introduction
Just yesterday (17 April 2021), Hansi Flick made it clear to the Bayern Munich Board that he “would like to terminate his contract”, from the club’s managerial duties by the end of the season. The news of Hansi Flick’s departure had been brewing for quite some time. With the German National Team job set to be vacant post Euros. The Bayern Munich manager is enticed on taking over this role.
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Back In Time
Flick joined Bayern Munich as an assistant coach, under the management of Niko Kovac. When Kovac left the job in November 2019, Flick was promoted as the interim boss. After seeing satisfactory results, Bayern offered Flick, a new contract until 2023. Under Hansi Flick’s guidance, the Bavarians won all possible major trophies in the 2019-20 season – The Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, DFL Supercup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World cup.
This success that Flick has given Bayern Munich in such a short time, sees him as an outright favorite to become Germany’s next coach. With Bayern Munich now finding a successor.
Now let’s answer the question in the title if not Flick then who? Now here look at some potential candidates who may replace Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich
Top Contenders
1. Julian Nagelsmann
Having earned the nickname “Baby Mourinho”. The German has been tipped as the most favorite or a like-to-like replacement for this job. Julian Nagelsmann would bring a lot of flair and aggression to this already impressive and star-studded Bayern team. Nagelsmann who became a manager at the age of 28, at the time of his appointment, was the Youngest Manager in the Bundesliga history. He also became the youngest manager, to coach aside in a UEFA Champions League Semi-Final. Having impressed with his coaching style at RB Leipzig, Julian Nagelsmann would be an apt candidate to take over this job. As the RB Leipzing boss, the German boasts an impressive winning ratio of 59.09%.
The only aspect which might hinder the appointment, would the lack of titles on his CV. Nagelsmann however, is still very young and has years ahead of him. Appointing Naglesmann for the job would be a win-win situation for both – the coach and the club.
2. Massimiliano Allegri
Another high-profile name and a master tactician who is available in the transfer market is the former Juventus boss – Massimiliano Allegri. After stepping down as the coach from Juventus, Allegri has been waiting for the right offer, from the right club. As per reports, Allegri is favored by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for his flexibility, pragmatism, and winning mentality. Having won the title (Scudetto) in every season of his years at Juventus. Also plus making it two UEFA Champions League finals, the Italian does have a strong track record managing clubs at the top level.
Going by the track record alone, Bayern would therefore consider him as a better candidate than Julian Naglesmann. Also, another point that needs to be considered is that Allegri is currently without a club, and would therefore be able to take over at Bayern immediately. On the other hand, RB Leipzig would probably demand a significant fee to let go of Nagelsmann.
3. Jurgen Klopp
Another candidate who is in the race and who Bayern might consider is Jurgen Klopp. Ever since the German tactician, signed for the Merseyside club in October 2015. He has found himself regularly linked with a move to Germany’s biggest club. Jurgen Klopp since his arrival has completely transformed Liverpool and has got them back to their glory days. In a span of four and a half seasons. Klopp has guided Liverpool to a Champions League final (2018), Champions League title (2019), and the Premier League title. Also, his “gegenpressing” style would bring out more from the Bayern Munich players, some of them who are already versatile in playing in multiple positions. Having been a manager for 20+ years, Jurgen Klopp has a winning ratio of 52.3%. What works in his favor is that he has the League titles and a Champions League title as well on his CV.
Klopp however, is unmoved by this news and has made it clear previously as well, that he intends to stick on with his current employers (Liverpool) until his contract runs out in 2023. Will the Bavarians approach and tempt him to come back to Germany only time will tell.
Left Field Choice
Xabi Alonso
The former Bayern midfielder could be in contention for an unlikely offer for the post. Currently coaching Real Sociedad B, Alonso has done fairly well with his tactics and team organization. Ever since taking over as the manager of Real Sociedad B he has a winning ratio of 51%.
As he lacks management experience at the top level and is still a novice, Bayern Munich would be hesitant to offer such a high-pressure job too soon. Although managers like Zinedine Zidane & Pep Guardiola have shown it’s not necessary that you need to have experience at the top level to get a coaching job at a big club. If Bayern considers him worthy at the moment and offers him the role, we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Bizarre One (OUT OF THE BOX)
Ernesto Valverde
The Spaniard has also been looking for the right offers ever since he left Barcelona at the start of 2020. If his news of being sacked by FC Barcelona came as a shock to many, it will be a surprise if Bayern Munich does appoint him as their new head coach. Valverde though boasts an impressive winning percentage as a coach on his bio. Ernesto Valverde has won 213 La Liga games in his career at Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, and Villarreal – which ranks fifth-most of all time. On top of such an impressive winning percentage, he also has League and domestic titles on his CV.
FC Bayern Munich already had a Spaniard (Pep Guardiola) as the head coach on their payroll previously. Even though Guardiola won all the domestic silverware during his tenure, he could not deliver the Champions League. A similar case has been with Valverde when he was with FC Barcelona. For this reason alone, he may not be the hot favorite candidate but an unlikely candidate.
Conclusion
Bayern Munich historically has had great managers, who have dominated European football for years. The club always had top expectations even during the transition periods, which is why they have been winning the Bundesliga for the past eight years. Any manager who comes in will have to fill in the big boots and would have to constantly deliver at the highest level until he’s associated with a club of such high stature.
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