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      Kane scores twice including last-gasp winner in front of Southgate as Bayern desperately try to keep up with Leverkusen

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      HARRY KANE won’t be the only Englishman who was pleased with his performance in the Allianz Arena.England gaffer Gareth Southgate watched on as he netted his 26th and 27th Bundesliga goals of the season against RB Leipzig.
      Harry Kane netted twice as Bayern Munich got a crucial three points in the BundesligaCredit: Getty
      Gareth Southgate was watching on from the crowdCredit: Sky Sports

      Southgate didn’t just see his Three Lions captain continue his Bavarian dominance, but watched Eric Dier get another 90 minutes in the tank too.
      The English duo played their part in a crucial 2-1 win over RB Leipzig.
      Bayern Munich are chasing down their title rivals Bayer Leverkusen who have shocked the footballing world with their stunning form this season.
      Tonight’s victory means that Bayern are able to close the gap to Xabi Alonso’s high-flying side down to eight points.
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      The Bavarians have been way off their usual standards this season and are fighting to stay in the title race and avoid giving up a 33rd Bundesliga title.
      While Leverkusen have been the surprise package in the German top flight with the Black and Reds unbeaten in their 23 league games this season.
      Bayern have already announced they will be parting ways with manager Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season after he has failed to maintain their near-perfect standards.
      But Kane is one man who isn’t giving up on earning himself the first piece of silverware in his goal flooded career.
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      The 30-year old has now scored an astonishing 31 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions for Bayern this season.
      Southgate will have always known that Kane is the first man on his teamsheet for the Euros in Germany this season with the superstar the national captain.
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      But his electric form this term will certainly be giving the waistcoat wearing boss a heap of confidence that England could do something very special this summer.
      Eric Dier on the other hand hasn’t been in the England squad since March of last year.
      But with the 30-year-old centre-back continuing to play consistent football for Bayern he could work his way into Southgate’s thinking this summer.
      Eric Dier has been playing more regular football at Bayern MunichCredit: Getty More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka scores incredible goal before pranking terrified boss Xabi Alonso with his celebration

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      GRANIT XHAKA pranked his own manager with a goal celebration as brilliant as his stunning strike.Xabi Alonso went from ecstasy to terror on the sideline as the former Arsenal midfielder lashed into the back of the net only to immediately grab his hamstring.
      Granit Xhaka scored a screamer for LeverkusenCredit: Sky Sports
      Xhaka gave boss Xabi Alonso a scare after the goal
      Alonso’s joy turned to fear on the touchlineCredit: Sky Sports
      Alonso couldn’t help but smile when he realised it was a prankCredit: Sky Sports

      But it turned out the Liverpool target was the only one not in on the joke as the Bundesliga leaders went 11 points clear of Bayern Munich with Friday’s 2-1 defeat of Mainz.
      Fans loved the comical caper after the Swiss star scored for the first time in 25 matches since quitting the Gunners for Alonso’s side.
      Xhaka went from hardman to funny man – despite the tension at the top of the German top flight as Leverkusen bid to dethrone Bayern.
      He’s certainly had a long time to plan something special for his first goal.
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      And his moment arrived after he skilfully shifted his body to thunder home a first-time left-footer from 25 yards in just the fourth minute.
      Xhaka wheeled away to rejoice – but quickly pulled up, clutching the back of his left leg and grimacing.
      Team-mates encircled the 31-year-old to salute his goal.
      And gradually Xhaka as well as wing-back Jeremie Frimpong turned the leg-holding into a celebration – as they danced off, lifting their knees in unison, while their colleagues grinned knowingly.
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      Xhaka held his hamstring and all his team-mates were in on itCredit: Rex
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      Ex-Liverpool midfield stylist Alonso was pictured on the Leverkusen bench with a worried expression that turned into a burst of laughter as looked on with his coaching team.
      One fan on social media responded: “I died laughing” while another wrote: “The reaction of the staff lol.”
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      Other viewers hailed Xhaka’s antics with comments like: “He faked his coach lol” and “Lol I thought he was going to twerk”.
      And one observer even compared the Leverkusen levity to other epic celebrations.
      He posted: “The video has everything to become iconic. The goal, celebration, the commentators who were fooled and Alonso who holds back the trainers.”
      But if Xhaka had the first laugh, Mainz keeper Robin Zentner was the victim of the last one – with a costly cock-up.
      Dominik Kohr had headed a shock leveller for the lowly visitors in only the eighth minute.
      And although Zentner produced a string of classy saves, he then fumbled in a Robert Andrich shot for Leverkusen’s winner midway trough the second half.
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      One fan labelled the German stopper a “Karius clone” – a hars reference to Lorius Karius, who gifted Real Madrid two goals in Liverpool’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat six years ago.
      Friday’s triumph means Leverkusen have now gone a club record 33 games unbeaten in all competitions. More

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      Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann reveals his dad was a spy who killed himself due to pressures of the job

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      Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has revealed his father was a SPY – who killed himself due to pressures of his job.Nagelsmann led Bayern Munich to the 2022 Bundesliga title, and was linked to the Chelsea and Tottenham manager’s jobs.
      Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has revealed his father was a spyCredit: Getty
      The 36-year-old became Germany’s second youngest-ever national coach last September when replacing Hansi Flick.
      He is set to lead his country when they host the Euro 2024 finals this summer.
      But Nagelsmann has now revealed his father used to work for the Federal Intelligence Service – the MI6 of Germany – before committing suicide 16 years ago.
      He told Der Spiegel: “I’m not allowed to say what role he had, and don’t know for sure what he did – but I know it was not the admin side.
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      “I knew little about where he really worked, but he told me when I was around 15 years old.
      “We would talk in his car when he drove me to training, but he was not allowed to speak much about his job.
      “He often said it was all too much for him. In his profession you couldn’t share your concerns, and in the end it weighed too heavily on him.
      “When people asked me what my father did I told them he was a soldier. Even my grandad believed his son was in the army.
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      “I was doing a coaching course near Munich when the tutor asked me to leave the room. Straightaway there was my stepfather, who told me that my dad had committed suicide.
      “My dad never left a farewell note, but the way he took his life made it clear his decision had been firm.
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      “It felt like s*** for my family, but at least it helped me to know that he definitely wanted to die and it was not just a cry for help. I had to respect his decision.
      “I think it was combination of his workload and his general condition. He changed a lot near the end of his life – we noticed the professional pressures on him.”
      Nagelsmann has achieved many great feats in management despite still being in his mid-30s.
      During his first stint as head coach with Hoffenheim he was named German Manager of the Year in 2017 after guiding them to a fourth-place finish.
      He then won the German Cup with RB Leipzig, before claiming the Bundesliga title and two German Super Cups with Bayern Munich.
      Now the German national team boss, Nagelsmann also gave a fitting tribute to his late father.
      He added: “He had been a fun-loving guy, who liked cracking jokes with his pals, playing the guitar and singing.
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      “We had been a happy family, with few rows or stresses, and we always had Sunday lunches together.
      “That made it all the harder for me to understand why he did what he did.” More

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      Jurgen Klopp’s agent confirms manager’s plans after Liverpool exit with Bayern Munich job set to be available

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      LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp plans to take a year out following his exit from the club. That’s according to his agent Marc Kosicke who told Sky Germany that the German doesn’t plan to take over any club or national team anytime soon.
      Jurgen Klopp will depart Liverpool this summerCredit: EPA
      The statement comes after Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich confirmed they will be parting ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season.
      Klopp was immediately linked with replacing him.
      The Liverpool chief has already stated he has no intentions of coaching another team in England following a successful nine year spell at Anfield.
      But since the announcement in January, he has found himself linked with vacancies at Barcelona and Germany but his agent insists he is going nowhere… for now.

      Klopp’s agent Kosicke said: “Jurgen Klopp will not coach any club or national team for a year after this current season.
      “That remains unchanged.“
      With Klopp having ruled himself out of Bayern Munich job, former player and current Bayer Leverkusen manager Xavi Alonso is favourite to land the job alongside Zinedine Zidane and former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
      Ironically, the vacancy coming up at Bayern could wreck Liverpool’s plans with it understood they are keen to appoint Alonso themselves.
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      Klopp first arrived to Liverpool back in November 2015 having replaced Brendan Rodgers in the dugout.
      Klopp was able to get the team to the Europa League final a couple of months later where they lost 3-1 to Sevilla.
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      Since then, he has returned the club to the top of the game, guiding them to a Champions League and Premier League trophy during his time.
      Signings including Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk have been key players during his tenure.
      Klopp has spent nine years at LiverpoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Eric Dier’s career in limbo as ‘doubts’ emerge over England star just 42 days after Bayern Munich transfer

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      ERIC DIER’S Bayern career looks to be coming to an end already – just 42 days after he joined the German champions.The Bavarian club are in full-blown crisis after losing their last three games on the bounce.
      Dier is unlikely to have his contract extended by BayernCredit: Rex
      Thomas Tuchel, the manager that brought in both Harry Kane and Eric Dier from Spurs, has already been dismissed by the club with the German undergoing a stay of execution until the summer.
      Dier has made just five appearances so far and the club are understood to be concerned about his lack of “pace” and “ability” according to The Daily Mail.
      The deal to bring him to the Allianz was structured in an unconventional way, with the defender currently on a six month loan from Tottenham.
      But his contract with Spurs is up in the summer, meaning he will be a free agent when the loan expires.
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      Bayern have the option to extend the deal by a further 12 months in the summer but that looks unlikely to happen at this stage.
      Dier has surprisingly moved up the pecking order since his move to Munich, with Bayern also having Matthijs de Ligt, Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upemacano to choose from.
      Upemacano has been struggling of late, being sent off in his last two appearances for the club.
      Dier has previously credited Kane with helping him adjust quickly to life in Bavaria.
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      He said it was a “dream” to join Kane in Bayern although he did rule out lodging in Kane’s £30million mansion.
      But his “dream” move is increasingly becoming a nightmare with Bayern now eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the title race.
      Fans are only just realising what Eric Dier sounds like after fears Bayern Munich star had pulled a Steve McClaren,
      Their Champions League threads are also hanging by a thread after losing the first leg of their round of 16 clash 1-0 against Lazio. More

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      Thomas Tuchel snubs Premier League club despite soon-to-be-axed Bayern Munich boss being desperate to return to England

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      THOMAS TUCHEL is not interested in managing West Ham despite being desperate for a Premier League return.The outgoing Bayern Munich boss has unfinished business with English football having been sacked by Chelsea in September 2022.
      Tuchel is not interested in taking the West Ham jobCredit: AP
      West Ham’s current boss David Moyes is out of contract at the end of this season and recent results have placed him under extra pressure.
      Some fans even want him out following a run of eight games without a win in which they have conceded 16 goals.
      Hammers’ chiefs are exploring possible options for a change of coach while remaining firmly behind Moyes for the immediate future.
      Tuchel will become a free agent in the summer after it was announced he will be leaving German champions Bayern at the end of this season.
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      But sources close to the German say Tuchel will only entertain ideas to manage at the biggest clubs in England.
      Liverpool are losing head coach Jurgen Klopp this summer and with new people on the board at Manchester United, manager Erik ten Hag is facing an uncertain future.
      Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is also under pressure with his team eighth in the Premier League despite the backing of Saudi billions.
      Tuchel managed Chelsea for a year and a half from January 2021 and won the Champions League and Club World Cup before helping the club through the most turbulent period in its history.
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      Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced then club owner Roman Abramovich to sell the club amid strict financial sanctions imposed by the UK government.
      Americans Todd Boehly and sidekick Behdad Eghbali bought Chelsea for just over £2 billion in May 2022 and sacked Tuchel 100 days later following a 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.
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      Graham Potter, Steve Cooper and Julen Lopetegui are all names also thought to be being considered by the West Ham hierarchy. More

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      Ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel desperate for Premier League return as he eyes Man Utd and Newcastle after Bayern exit

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      THOMAS TUCHEL is desperate for a Premier League return.Bayern Munich on Wednesday announced former Chelsea chief Tuchel will leave the German club at the end of this season.
      Thomas Tuchel will leave Bayern at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Manchester United and Newcastle could both be looking for a new manager soon.
      And Tuchel — who led the Blues to the Champions League title in 2021 — would be interested.
      Tuchel was shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge in September 2022 and has told friends how much he has missed managing in England.
      The 50-year-old is leaving Bayern after a torrid spell.
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      The team have lost their last three games and are eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
      Bayern will battle Liverpool for Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who played for both clubs.
      Yet Tuchel only joined Bayern 11 months ago to replace Julian Nagelsmann and led the club to an 11th successive title.
      His contract was until 2025 but Bayern have struggled and — despite Harry Kane’s arrival — Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Bochum was another blow.
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      In a dig at the players, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said: “Every individual at the club is called upon to achieve the maximum in the Champions League and Bundesliga.
      “I particularly emphasise the responsibility of the team.”
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      Tuchel said: “I will leave after this season. Until then, my team and I will do everything to ensure maximum success.”
      Next up for Bayern is a tricky game against RB Leipzig on Saturday as they look to avoid making it four defeats in a row. More

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      Xabi Alonso’s preference ‘revealed’ as Liverpool and Bayern Munich ‘make enquiries over Bayer Leverkusen boss

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      XABI ALONSO is “more willing” to join Bayern Munich than Liverpool, according to reports.The Spanish head coach, 42, is bidding to lead Bayer Leverkusen to the first Bundesliga title in their history – with his club eight points clear of title rivals Bayern heading into the final 12 matches of the campaign.
      Xabi Alonso faces a tough decision this summerCredit: Getty
      But he is already being linked with an exit in the summer as two of Europe’s biggest clubs – both of whom he played for – circle for his signature.
      With Jurgen Klopp announcing he will leave Anfield at the end of the season, Alonso has been tipped to take over from the German.
      But Liverpool now face competition from Bayern after it was confirmed on Wednesday that boss Thomas Tuchel will depart in the summer.
      And according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Alonso is “more willing to join Bayern Munich instead of joining Liverpool”.
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      The reporter also went on to state that both clubs have “enquired” about bringing Alonso in.
      However, the ex-Spain midfielder remains focused on his job at Leverkusen.
      Alonso, who is unbeaten after 22 Bundesliga games this season, received a seal of approval from Klopp to replace him at Anfield.
      Last week, the outgoing Liverpool manager said: “Xabi is doing an incredible job.
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      “If there were not the rumours around, that’s completely independent, if you had asked me eight weeks ago about Xabi Alonso, I would have gone ‘Oh my God’.
      “The dinosaurs if you want, Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola, maybe me, we will not do it – OK maybe Mourinho.
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      “But all the rest of us will not do it for the next 20 years. The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is the stand-out in that department.”
      Alonso, who in the past has referred to managing Liverpool as a “dream”, spent five seasons at the Reds, playing more than 200 games and winning both the Champions League and FA Cup.
      After five years at Real Madrid, he then joined Bayern where he claimed three Bundesliga titles and the German Cup.
      But while he has history with both Liverpool and Bayern, he could yet opt to stay at Leverkusen.
      Alonso has a contract with the Bundesliga leaders until 2025. More