Bayern Munich have announced that Thomas Tuchel will leave the club at the end of the season after just 11 months in charge.
The German arrived towards the end of the 2022/23 season and oversaw Bayern collecting their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title, but this season has been a huge disappointment.
Bayern sit eight points behind Bundeliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, have been knocked out of the DFB Pokal by third division Saarbrucken and are 1-0 down to Lazio in their Champions League round of 16 tie, meaning a first trophyless season since 2011/12 is a real possibility.
Reported tension between the coaching staff and players behind the scenes has also added to the pressure on Tuchel. Bayern’s midfielder Leon Goretzka has described this season as “a horror film that doesn’t stop and Tuchel has publicly criticised his players several times, including telling the media that he was “tired of saying that we’re training well” after a loss to Werder Bremen in January.
But leaving underneath a cloud is not necessarily unusual for Tuchel. His departure from PSG followed a public fallout over player recruitment with the club’s sporting director Leonardo, the same year Tuchel guided PSG to their first-ever Champions League final.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was a similar story at Chelsea, arriving at West London and galvanising a team mid-season to win go on and win the Champions League. He was adored by fans, respected by neutrals as he became the club’s de facto spokesperson during Chelsea’s sanctioning under Roman Abramovich, which then led to a consortium of Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital and others becoming the new owners.
Tuchel managed the storm well during that time, but uncertainty over his changed role under Chelsea’s new ownership led to the club deciding to make a change.
So with his time at Bayern up in June, here’s what could be next for Tuchel…
LIVERPOOL
At this point, Liverpool are the only Premier League team that are certain to be looking for a new manager in the summer as they search for Jurgen Klopp’s replacement. That vacancy comes with a huge deal of pressure, but Tuchel isn’t a stranger to following his fellow countryman’s managerial path.
HIs first two coaching jobs were, like Klopp’s, both at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, and although they have now forged their careers away from the two German clubs, Tuchel has the personality big enough to fill the void left by Klopp.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs much as the Liverpool boss is a great tactician, what makes him so loved by the Reds’ fanbase is his passion and emotion shown on the touchline, as well as the success he has delivered to the club.
He has more experience than alternative options like Xabi Alonso, Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim and is a proven trophy winner. But whoever steps into that role will initially be compared to Klopp and has big shoes to follow, so it would not be easy for Tuchel.
NEWCASTLE
Eddie Howe did incredibly well to take Newcastle into the Champions League last season, but in this campaign, trying to balance the different competitions and significant injury problems has seen his side drop off. Newcastle’s ambitious Saudi Arabian owners will want to ensure that their money is being well spent, so if a proven winner like Tuchel is available, it could pique their interest.
In the eyes of the German, it could be an exciting project as well, with a base of players such as Bruno Guimarães, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak giving Tuchel quality to work with straight away.
Embed from Getty ImagesThroughout a poor run of results in December, Howe’s position came under scrutiny and if they continue to sit just above mid-table in the Premier League, the Newcastle board may want to bring in an exciting name to signal their intentions.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United have disappointed this season and despite a recent turnaround in form, still sit five points off Aston Villa in fourth. Even in those victories, Erik ten Hag’s side have been far from convincing, and if those uninspiring performances are met with more disappointing results again, the Dutchman’s position could start to be questioned.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe also now becoming a shareholder of the club and in control of all sporting operations, they will want to steer the club in a new direction which could include a managerial change. Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth is also expected to be appointed as their new sporting director.
Embed from Getty ImagesIf Ratcliffe and co want to change their approach on the pitch, bringing in a manager who has experience in delivering success in the Premier League and on the continental stage is imperative, and Tuchel fits the bill.
But for now, Tuchel will be focused on ensuring that he can put himself in the most attractive position for future employers by ending the season strongly in Germany.
BARCELONA
Much like Liverpool, Barcelona will be looking for a new manager after Xavi announced that he will depart at the end of the season.
The Spaniard won the league in his first full season in 2022/23 but has struggled to defend the title this campaign, which has led to the 44-year-old opting to leave.
Barcelona have an exciting crop of young players who have already been integrated into the first team, but with the financial issues that continue to surround them and after a tough spell at Bayern Munich, Tuchel may also want to look for a more stable next destination.
Although Tuchel also has his eyes set on returning to England, the prestige that comes with managing Barcelona could be enough to tempt the German to come to Spain.
The challenge of also battling it out with Real Madrid and turning Barcelona into a powerhouse in Europe again could also excite him.
