BAYERN MUNICH reportedly made a desperate attempt to convince Thomas Tuchel to stay in Bavaria last season.
Tuchel was today announced as the new England manager but things could have been very different had Bayern got their way in the summer.
Tuchel was sacked by Bayern last term after steering the club to their first trophyless campaign in 12 years.
But after informing Tuchel that he would need to clear his desk at the end of the season, the German superclub were left scrambling to find the right replacement.
Tuchel had come to a “mutual agreement” with the club in February – three months before the end of the season – to leave in the summer.
But those three months didn’t quite go as expected for the execs at Bayern, who were being rejected left, right and centre by potential replacements.
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While Tuchel seemed to turn things around on the pitch, pushing the Bavarians into a Champions League semi-final – which they narrowly lost 4-3 to eventual winners Real Madrid.
Reports from multiple outlets, including Bild and Sky Sports, were claiming that the lack of a suitable replacement and a turnaround in form left execs at Bayern scrambling to effectively UNSACK Tuchel.
It was said that sporting directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund began negotiations with Tuchel to try and reverse their joint decision.
ESPN claimed at the time that Tuchel would have needed convincing that he wasn’t going to be used as a stop-gap for a future replacement and was keen to sign an extension on his deal to return to the dugout.
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ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life
By Andy Dillon
THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.
Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.
English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.
Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.
Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.
Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.
Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.
An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.
Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England job
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Those demands clearly couldn’t be agreed and ultimately Tuchel wasn’t convinced to remain at the Allianz.
It wasn’t just staff who were pining for Tuchel to stay put though, groups of fans even signed petitions to try and keep their man in pace.
Ultimately, the 51-year-old walked and it was relegated Burnley boss Vincent Kompany who was snapped up by the Bundesliga side to become the new manager.
Among the names who reportedly turned their nose up at taking the Bayern job was Ralf Rangnick, Julian Nagelsmann, Unai Emery, Oliver Glasner and Julen Lopetegui.
Reports also emerged that Bayern Munich players were pushing for Tuchel to stay on at the club, with Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer both speaking in his favour.
While England captain Harry Kane was also said to be one of the stars who would have welcomed him staying, alongside Eric Dier.
Now Kane will get to play under Tuchel with three lions on his chest instead, labelling the manager as a “fantastic coach and fantastic person” earlier in the week.
Kane actually had his best ever goalscoring season under Tuchel, netting an astonishing 44 times in 45 games last term and winning the Bundesliga Golden Boot.
In fact, Kane boasts his best ever minutes-per-goal ratio under Tuchel compared to any of his other managers – netting once every 89 minutes under his former boss.
The sliding doors moment appears to have worked in England’s favour with Tuchel now primed and ready to lead the nation into the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking in his announcement press conference, he brushed off the pressure from the fans.
He said: “This is always the last thing I think about because I’m up for the pressure on the sporting side.
“I’m up for the big challenge, I’m up for the task. I’m up for these 18 months to work with the group and be part of this amazing federation. These are all the reasons to jump in.
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“The pressure that could arise if things don’t go so well is never part of the decision making and I don’t feel it so much.
“It’s always a privilege and my love and passion for the game is always more than the downside of it.”
Inside FA’s thrilling chase for Tuchel
THE FA’s path to securing Thomas Tuchel’s signature was not a straightforward one.
They tried to lure Pep Guardiola from Manchester City over the summer.
They even made contact with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after deciding to target trophy-laden foreign gaffers.
The FA’s determination to go international was summed up by their decision NOT to interview Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Initial talks with Tuchel saw him express a slight interest in replacing Gareth Southgate.
But he was waiting to see what would happen at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future under the spotlight.
Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe eventually decided to stick with Ten Hag – and that opened the door to the FA getting their man.
Read the full story on England’s thrilling pursuit of Thomas Tuchel.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
