Carlo Ancelotti has left his role as head coach at Bayern Munich. Although that may at first suggestion a solution is now at hand, it instead offers even more questions for the future of the German champions.
The most pressing issue is of course who replaces the managerial behemoth at what is now surely one of the most high-pressure jobs in all of European football these days. Two names currently stand out.
The least apparent one first: Thomas Tuchel. Although the former Mainz coach has only just ended his time at Borussia Dortmund, Tuchel is undoubtedly one of the most talented coaches in Germany at the moment.
Not only is the 44-year old available right now, but he also subscribes to a style of coaching that would fit in quite nicely with a Bayern squad crying out for the return of Pep Guardiola’s extensive tactics and training. He may have left Dortmund after one too many disagreements with members of the club, but his record at the Westfalenstadion was excellent and he would waste little time building a strong squad in Munich.
The other, more likely, candidate seems to be 30-year-old Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann. Hailed as a coaching wonderkid for the manner in which he has dragged a limited Hoffenheim side - in terms of quality and budget constraints - to the top of the Bundesliga, there’s no denying that he would make a popular choice.
In Nagelsmann, Bayern could build a new long-term vision around a coach that has already proved excellent at not only getting his tactics spot on, but also in his ability to get the very best out of his players - especially the younger ones. However, he might not be available till next summer.
There are also questions that either of these coaches would have to address fairly quickly. David Alaba hasn’t looked like the world-class full-back he once was for quite some time, Thomas Muller’s slump is now extending towards a legitimate lull in his career and the stalwart Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery still have no worthy successors in the squad.
On top of all that is the constant pressure of winning the Bundesliga each season as well as the very real necessity of getting back to challenging the Spanish clubs in the Champions League each and every season.
Bayern may have made the right decision in removing Ancelotti from his post, but plenty more problems need to be fixed in Munich before too long.
