Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel announced on Friday that he will leave the club at the end of the season, citing an inability to agree on terms for a contract extension.
The decision comes after a turbulent period for the club, marked by a series of disappointing results and a narrow miss in the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid.
Tuchel, who joined Bayern in March following the departure of Julian Nagelsmann, initially agreed to part ways with the club in February.
This decision followed a string of three consecutive losses that saw Bayern fall eight points behind eventual Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
However, the team’s performance in the latter stages of the season and their deep run in the Champions League led to reconsideration from both Tuchel and the club’s management.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Bayern’s final game against Hoffenheim, Tuchel confirmed that despite extensive talks, an agreement for him to stay on could not be reached.
“We will stick to the agreement that we had in February,” Tuchel told reporters. “We had talks, as you reported, but we couldn’t agree on terms.”
Reflecting on his time with the team, Tuchel expressed mixed emotions. “It’s very difficult.
The longer the season went on and the more you experienced, the way we played against Arsenal and Real Madrid, it really glued you and the team together.
These past few weeks were the basis to think about a U-turn, but we couldn’t find an agreement to keep working together and I’m not going to elaborate on details and motivations. It stays behind closed doors.”
Bayer Leverkusen’s triumph in the Bundesliga, under the guidance of former Bayern player Xabi Alonso, ended Munich’s 11-year dominance of the title.
Tuchel acknowledged the challenge of departing under these circumstances. “I’m a bit sad because I don’t want to leave teams and the staff.
There are 60-70 people you see around the team each day. You really connect with those people and work with them closely. This is always tough and a bit sad.”
Reports from German media suggest that one of the sticking points in the negotiations was Tuchel’s desire for a contract extension until 2026.
His original deal was set to run until 2025, but the premature announcement of his departure initiated a challenging and ultimately unsuccessful search for a successor.
Notable candidates such as Xabi Alonso, former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann, and former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick reportedly turned down the opportunity.
Tuchel also provided an update on team news, confirming that star striker Harry Kane will miss the Hoffenheim match due to a back injury.
Kane, who has been receiving treatment from his personal doctor, will not travel with the team. “Harry is receiving treatment with his personal doctor. He’s no longer here. He won’t travel to Hoffenheim.
It was really a borderline decision against Madrid. We tried it but it got worse with every move that he made, so there was no chance to take part in training.”
Kane’s absence effectively ends his bid to break Robert Lewandowski’s single-season Bundesliga goalscoring record.
With 36 goals in his debut season for Bayern, Kane fell short of Lewandowski’s record of 41 goals. Additionally, Tuchel confirmed that Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala would also miss the match, along with Kim Min-jae, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Raphael Guerreiro, and Sacha Boey.
“It’s a pretty long list,” Tuchel noted.
As Tuchel prepares to lead Bayern for the last time, the end of his tenure marks a period of reflection and transition for both him and the club.
His brief but eventful stint will be remembered for its highs and lows, encapsulating the unpredictable nature of football management.
For Bayern Munich, the focus now shifts to finding a new leader capable of guiding the club back to its accustomed place at the pinnacle of German and European football.
