One of the main stories of this international break has been Bayern Munich’s decision to part ways with Julian Nagelsmann to appoint Thomas Tuchel as their new head coach. Despite the recent elimination of Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, the German giants have failed domestically and are no longer at the top of the Bundesliga.
Borussia Dortmund lead the Bavarians by one point over this weekend’s Klassiker, who already have enough grit without taking into account that Tuchel has previously coached BVB. Nagelsmann brought modern thinking to Allianz Arena when he was appointed in 2021, but his methods also caused friction behind the scenes.
Although Tuchel is 14 years older than his predecessor, he is still quite young in managerial terms and boasts a pedigree that Nagelsmann has yet to acquire. That’s not to say the 35-year-old isn’t getting there and there’s a general feeling that this experience is gaining will serve him well in whatever job he lands next, even in London at Tottenham Hotspur.
So, what does Bayern get with Tuchel?
Long term goal
First of all, this is not the first time Bayern have tried to bring in Tuchel as their new boss. Previous attempts failed due to timing and the Bundesliga champions being caught when PSG were fastest for the German tactician. The 49-year-old was scheduled for this summer, but things got tough with Nagelsmann, so a change was made to ensure Bayern didn’t miss him again.
Pedigree
While it would be disrespectful to what Nagelsmann has achieved so early in his career to say Bayern have been upgraded, there is certainly a sense that Tuchel has a more suitable pedigree for one of Europe’s giants. Having managed Dortmund, PSG, Chelsea and now Der FCB, the man from the Bavarian town of Krumbach has the experience to oversee the change in Bayern’s fortunes as they look to restore their national and continental reputations. The Germans are also arguably more focused on football than his previous placements at PSG and even Chelsea, which Tuchel will really like.
Star treatment
One of Nagelsmann’s biggest concerns from the start at Bayern was his age and whether he was just the right man, but too early in his career for such a position. Not being much older than some of its players is a fairly rare dynamic in European football, especially at a club as big as Bayern. Compare that not only to Tuchel’s unquestionable seniority to his players, but also to the fact that he has coached the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Neymar in recent years, and it feels like a more logical fit.
Motivated
Tuchel has taken a break since leaving Chelsea and although he will no doubt have been probed for other jobs at PSG, including those mentioned. The fact that he remained patient for an opening like Bayern suggests he feels he is ready to return after coming to terms with his departure from Chelsea after a rather successful short spell in which he also led The Blues to the Champions League title a year after losing to Bayern as PSG boss in the 2020 final. A return to his native Germany following placements in France and England is also likely to be welcome after a tumultuous time off the pitch in recent years. Nagelsmann himself was the subject of much speculation due to his relationship with a former BILD journalist causing trust issues in the dressing room.
Winner
Looking at his recent exploits, it’s hard to argue that Tuchel is a winner. He took a struggling Chelsea side and turned them into European champions and he almost brought the continental success PSG’s Qatari owners crave. Meticulous and very confident in his own abilities, Tuchel will see the appeal of the dynastic potential for Bayern both in Germany and abroad.
Demanding
Tuchel is someone who finds ways to get the most out of his players, but he is also very clear about what he wants when it comes to new players and that can sometimes cause friction with his superiors. Clashes with club leaders were one of the main factors in his demise at PSG while Chelsea were quick to replace him earlier this season when things didn’t go according to plan. At some point that will probably hurt – the question is how soon that will come into Tuchel’s tenure and what can be gained before those tensions surface.