The timeline of Bayern Munich’s surprising coaching change unfolds around the abrupt exit of the world’s most expensive coach, a move that shocked fans and analysts alike.
This season has been rocky for Bayern in both on and off the field. Captain Manuel Neuer sustained a broken leg in December, and the club’s decision to part ways with Julian Nagelsmann came while he was away from the pitch, on a ski trip in the Zillertal. Reports indicate the dismissal was a media revelation to him, leaving a sour first impression of leadership at the top levels.
FC Bayern Munich announced that Julian Nagelsmann would no longer lead the team, with the decision made by general manager Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić, in consultation with president Herbert Hainer. Thomas Tuchel was named as his successor, signaling a bold strategic pivot for the club.
Why Bayern Munich dismissed Nagelsmann and appointed Tuchel
From a surface view, the circumstances appear sudden, even if there were underlying patterns. The team had ceded the Bundesliga lead on the previous Sunday but still faced multiple title chances across the three major competitions with over two months left in the season. Nagelsmann had just steered a notable Champions League upset over Paris Saint-Germain, underscoring his capabilities in big moments.
Despite a string of impressive Champions League results, Bayern struggled to maintain consistency in the domestic league. After 25 games, the club’s points tally stood as the worst since 2012, and questions about day-to-day performance persisted. Critics pointed to a lack of steady momentum and inconsistent results that extended beyond the results sheet to the feel of the team in training and in matches.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic opened a discussion about team mentality. The critique suggested the squad played with intensity in high-stakes games but eased off in routine Bundesliga fixtures. The assessment targeted both players and the coaching approach, implying a need for a new leadership direction.
Nagelsmann’s public persona and perceived self-criticism were cited as factors in the friction within the club. During his first season, public rifts over staff decisions and leadership style emerged, and disagreements with captain Manuel Neuer over the dismissal of the goalkeeping coach added to the tension. Relationships with team leaders were scrutinized, with speculation about close ties to certain players noted by observers.
There were leaks about tactics that intensified internal tensions, and a political climate within the squad contributed to a broader sense of disharmony. While the club had recently strengthened the squad in line with the coach’s vision, transfer priorities, including the high-profile signing of Matthijs de Ligt, were a point of pride and a test of the working relationship between coach and board.
In January, a change in the backroom staff occurred with Tapalovic’s resignation and the hiring of Michael Computer as a fresh voice in the coaching setup. The move reflected a willingness to recalibrate the coaching ecosystem and signal renewed confidence in the club’s broader strategy.
Chairman Herbert Hainer publicly described a forward-looking plan, noting visible progress over the past eighteen months and suggesting that the coaching conversation originated outside the club’s walls. The decision to part ways with Nagelsmann and bring in Tuchel was framed as a step toward seizing renewed momentum, leveraging Tuchel’s track record at top clubs to push Bayern forward.
Tuchel’s candidacy had previously circulated in 2018, when conversations occurred at the executive level. A variety of outcomes had unfolded since, including Tuchel’s stints at PSG and Chelsea, where his teams demonstrated character and an attacking mindset. The narrative now suggests Bayern acted decisively to avoid missing another opportunity to secure a proven winner.
Speculation connected Tuchel with multiple clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, as part of a larger market backdrop. In the end, Bayern chose a path that aligned with the board’s assessment of what the team needed to regain momentum and compete at the highest level in Europe for the immediate future.
Reference: Goal