After losing out on Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich’s eyes have turned to an unlikely destination.
Germany’s TZ reported on Tuesday that Bayern’s interest in Guardiola is a “temporary solution for Pep Guardiola, not Jürgen Klopp.
The Bavarians are in urgent need of a new manager, and even after the conclusion of the season’s final match, there has been no news of any negotiations. Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, and Ralf Rangnick, all of whom were initially considered, have all turned down the job.
It was recently reported that Tuchel was in talks to stay on for another season, but Bayern and Tuchel’s talks fell through. Tuchel made his intentions to leave Bayern clear in a post-season press conference after the final game of the season, putting an end to any possibility of a stay. This led to speculation that the Bavarians, who will have to conduct an additional search, could go with an interim manager next season and then push for Pep Guardiola’s return in the summer of 2025.
‘There is talk of an interim manager for the Bayern job,’ said TZ. The speculation follows the announcement that Klopp will not return to Liverpool until the 2025-2026 season following his departure. However, Bayern may not be looking at Klopp, but rather at Guardiola.
Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City expires in the summer of 2025. With no news of renewal talks as of yet, it’s entirely possible that Guardiola could leave the club. In a post-season interview, Guardiola said that he was “closer to leaving than staying” when asked about a possible extension after next season.
Guardiola has already coached Bayern in the past. Of the three teams he has coached (Barcelona, Bayern, and Man City), only Bayern has not been associated with the Bavarians, as 카지노 Guardiola won the league title but failed to lift the Champions League trophy.
In light of these developments, Bayern may even be planning for Guardiola’s return. TZ also noted the possibility of a one-year interim manager for next season in order to get Guardiola in place, but it’s unclear if Guardiola will choose to leave City and return to Bayern despite Bayern’s interest.
Meanwhile, the delay in naming a new coach also means that Bayern defender Kim Min-jae’s future at the club is still unknown. His status and future at Bayern could be very much dependent on who is in charge next season.
Germany’s top club has been stuck in the middle of a managerial search for half a season. If Guardiola is indeed hired, the club will be able to get fans excited again, but it will be even more frustrating for Bayern fans if they go into next season with an interim manager without any real certainty.