Bayern Munich has officially confirmed Thomas Tuchel’s departure at the end of the season, triggering the commencement of their search for a new manager. While several potential successors have been identified, the final decision remains uncertain.
Among the leading contenders are Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso and Zinedine Zidane, both of whom have garnered favour among fans. However, it remains unclear whether either would definitively accept an offer from Bayern. Additionally, Bayern may need to fend off interest from Liverpool for Alonso’s services, given his ties to the club as a former player.
Hansi Flick’s name has also surfaced as a potential candidate, considering his availability since parting ways with Germany in September. The former Bayern manager, who achieved remarkable success with the club, is also rumoured to be in contention for the vacant position at FC Barcelona following Xavi Hernandez’s departure announcement.
Per information from football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (via @iMiaSaMia), Flick is currently favouring the Barcelona job over any interest there might be from Bayern concerning a return to the club to succeed Tuchel. Romano also clarifies that there has not been any contact between Flick and Bayern over replacing Tuchel this summer — those are just speculative rumours at this point.
For Flick, the Barcelona job could be more appealing as it would be a new challenge for him in a different country elsewhere than Germany. His club managerial record certainly bodes far better for himself than his brief tenure as the German national team manager, but Barcelona needs a top-class manager to continue the stabilization that Xavi has provided. The club was far off of what they used to be before he stepped into his post in November of 2021.