Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, have confirmed that the club’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, will leave at the end of the season.

Liverpool target, Xabi Alonso, is the preferred candidate to succeed Tuchel after Bayern, on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, confirmed they will part ways with the manager this summer.

They are also looking at former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, and ex-Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The pressure increased on Tuchel after Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Bochum left his side eight points behind Alonso’s Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and condemned Bayern to a third defeat in a row after they were beaten 1-0 at Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie last week.

Bayern Munich consider Alonso, Zidane, Solskjaer as Tuchel successors

Facing a first trophyless season in 12 years, Bayern’s primary plan was to reach the end of the campaign with Tuchel and assess the situation, but they announced on Wednesday that the former Chelsea boss will leave the club.

Tuchel said: “We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season.

“Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success.”

On his part, Bayern chief executive, Jan-Christian Dreesen, said: “In an open, good conversation we came to the decision to mutually end our collaboration in the summer. Our goal is to carry out a sporting realignment with a new coach for the 2024/25 season.

“Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga.

“I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard. In the Champions League in particular, after losing 1-0 in the first leg at Lazio, we are convinced we will reach the quarter-finals at a packed Allianz Arena with our fans behind us.”

Work is going on in the background regarding Tuchel’s successor and Alonso is considered the preferred solution internally, according to Sky Sports.

The Star