Bayern coach Tuchel set to leave in June

BERLIN | Xinhua | Bayern Munich and head coach Thomas Tuchel have mutually agreed to part ways in June, the Bundesliga giants confirmed via their official website on Wednesday.

Although Tuchel’s contract was due to expire in June 2025, both parties agreed to part company one year ahead of schedule after what was called an “amicable conversation” between Tuchel and Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.

After two straight league defeats, Bayern currently sit second in the Bundesliga, eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, and lost their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg tie 1-0 to Lazio last week. Earlier in the season, the club also suffered an embarrassing exit in the German Cup at the hands of lower league outfit Saarbrucken.

“In an open and good conversation, we came to the decision to mutually end our collaboration in the summer,” said Dreesen.

“Our goal is to carry out a realignment with a new coach for the 2024/25 season. Until then, every individual in the club is expressly asked to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and the Bundesliga.

“I also explicitly hold the team responsible. Especially in the Champions League, we are convinced that after the defeat in the first leg at Lazio, we will advance to the quarterfinals in the second leg in our sold-out Allianz Arena with our fans behind us,” Dreesen added.

50-year-old former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach Tuchel succeeded Julian Nagelsmann as coach of Bayern in March 2023. Two months later, he dramatically lifted the Bundesliga title after Borussia Dortmund could only draw against Mainz on the final day.

“We have agreed that we will end our collaboration after this season. Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching team to achieve maximum success,” said Tuchel.

Bayern take on RB Leipzig and Freiburg in their next two Bundesliga games, before their second leg against Lazio on home soil on March 5. ■