In one of the most surprising managerial changes in recent times, Julian Nagelsmann has been fired as manager of Bayern Munich and replaced by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
The 35-year-old German, who led Bayern to the Bundesliga title in his first campaign in charge last season, leaves with his side one point off league leaders Borussia Dortmund.
They are also in the quarter-finals of the Champions League – after seven clean sheets in eight European matches – where they face Manchester City.
Despite just three league defeats all season and an average of 2.19 points per match during his 19 months at the helm – the fourth-best tally for a Bayern manager in Bundesliga history – the club’s board was dissatisfied with Nagelsmann.
To the point that the decision was made to cut ties with the man who only recently was called a “perfect fit” by chairman Herbert Hainer.
But Bayern’s bosses have been concerned by a lack of progress the team has shown, the way highly-paid players such as Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane have struggled this year, and the fact Nagelsmann has shown a tendency to antagonize key members of the dressing room.
In the end, the undoubtedly talented coach had no one at the highest level to stick up for him.
