Bayern: The Coach Factory for National Teams
Thomas Tuchel is the man of the hour in both England and Germany. His appointment as the new head coach of the 'Three Lions' marks his return to the elite after his controversial departure from Bayern Munich in June—a club that has become a springboard for coaches towards national teams.
Over the past twenty years, five managers from the European six-time champions have gone on to lead national teams. Interestingly, the three most recent ones have followed this trend.
Flick opens the path
Hansi Flick, now leading Barcelona, started this chain. After rescuing Bayern from a poor start under Niko Kovac, he won six titles in the pandemic season, including the famous 2-8 win over Barça. He later took charge of the German national team, but his tenure fell short of expectations, with early exits at the Qatar World Cup and several setbacks in friendlies.
Nagelsmann takes the baton
After Flick's dismissal, Julian Nagelsmann stepped in. The young coach, who had already replaced Flick at Bayern, experienced a mixed spell with the club, despite early success in the Bundesliga. His sacking came after a surprise elimination by Villarreal and tensions with the board. In September 2023, he took over the German national team.
Tuchel completes the cycle
Tuchel, who arrived at Bayern with a strong resume from PSG and Chelsea, took charge during a turbulent period. Although he secured the Bundesliga title on the final matchday with a dramatic goal by Musiala, he suffered heavy defeats in the Champions League and the domestic cup. His clashes with the board and a third-place finish in the league led to his dismissal. However, his departure allowed him to follow in the footsteps of Flick and Nagelsmann, taking on a new challenge in international football.
Hitzfeld and Van Gaal: The precedents
Before them, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Louis Van Gaal also made the leap from Bayern to national teams. Hitzfeld guided Switzerland to two World Cups, while Van Gaal, after enjoying success at Bayern, managed the Netherlands during several successful campaigns.
With these precedents, the German media jokes about Vincent Kompany, Bayern's current coach: if he gets fired, he may already have a ticket to manage a national team.
