Bayern Munich announce Thomas Tuchel to leave Bundesliga giants

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have announced that manager Thomas Tuchel will depart the club at the end of the season.

The club released a statement on Wednesday confirming that Tuchel would vacate his role at the end of the current 2023/24 campaign.

“FC Bayern Munich and head coach Thomas Tuchel have jointly decided to end their working relationship, which was originally set to run until 30 June 2025, on 30 June 2024,” a statement said.

“This is the outcome of a constructive discussion between CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Thomas Tuchel.

“‘In a good, open discussion, we came to the decision to end our working relationship by mutual agreement in the summer. Our goal is to pursue a new footballing direction with a new head coach for the 2024/25 season. Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga. I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard. In the Champions League in particular, after losing 1-0 in the first leg at Lazio, we are convinced we will reach the quarter-finals at a packed Allianz Arena with our fans behind us,'” FC Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said.

“‘We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season. Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success,'” Tuchel said.

Tuchel succeeded Julian Nagelsmann as head coach of FC Bayern in March 2023. Just over two months later, he lifted the Bundesliga with the club.

Bayern’s shock 3-2 defeat to Bochum on Sunday meant they lost three games in a row for the first time since 2015.

That followed a 3-0 setback at title rivals Bayer Leverkusen, who now lead the Bundesliga by eight points after 22 rounds of fixtures, and the 1-0 Champions League first-leg loss to Lazio.

Jurgen Klopp, who is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, and Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso have been suggested as possible successors to Tuchel at the Allianz Arena.

Former Bayern and Liverpool midfielder Alonso has also been strongly linked to succeeding Klopp at Anfield.