BAVARIAN FOOTBALL
Bayern Munich’s coaching search is ending at long last with the hiring of Vincent Kompany to replace outgoing Thomas Tuchel. Former Bayern Munich exec Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the news — and if ever “damning with faint praise” applied…
“Our director has decided to go for Vincent Kompany as new head coach,” Rummenigge is quoted as saying (as reported by Fabrizio Romano, via @iMiaSanMia). “We are set to complete the final details and then it will be official.
“Pep Guardiola was also helping us with Kompany, he spoke very highly of Vincent as a talented coach. Pep knows Vincent well and his opinion was really appreciated.”
Welcoming with open arms, then? Bayern’s contentious and protracted coaching search was littered with leaks and rumors of disagreement between the numerous stakeholders in the Bayern board room. It was even reported that big bosses Rummenigge and Uli Hoeneß did not want Kompany at all, instead preferring FC Barcelona-bound Hansi Flick — but that board member for sport Max Eberl pounded the table for first Tuchel, then Kompany.
This was an opportunity to sweep aside the recent reports and make clear that Bayern stood united in deciding on Kompany. Instead, with a statement like this, Rummenigge appears to be signaling that the responsibility for the call lies with Eberl — more smoke in line with another report that Eberl’s neck is on the line with the upcoming results.
Looks like the Kompany era — which has not even begun — is destined to go great.
