He’s the man who came to Bavaria to drive the German giants to sustained success at home and abroad.
Thomas Tuchel, who did such a good job at Chelsea and guided them to European and World titles before being sacked because new owners wanted their own man – and look how that worked out – was seen as something of a coup for Bayern Munich just under a year ago.
In his first game, in April last year, he made his mark immediately, guiding them to a 4-2 Bundesliga victory over his former club and title rivals Borussia Dortmund in “der Klassiker”.
Here was the forward-thinking tactician who built his reputation during his time at Mainz before taking over at Dortmund and leading them to German Cup success in 2017.
He also delivered back-to-back French league titles at Paris Saint-Germain and took them to their first Champions League final in 2020, which they lost to Bayern. Then came Chelsea.
It seemed harsh that Bayern had sacked Julian Nagelsmann with the club still in Europe and challenging domestically. Perhaps the chance to swoop for Tuchel was just too good an opportunity to miss.
He duly delivered the Bundesliga title, although that was as much to do with Dortmund’s last-day wobble as any Bayern brilliance.
Fast forward 11 months though and the shoe is on the other foot after last week’s news Bayern and Tuchel will part company this summer – announced after Bayern had suffered a third successive defeat in all competitions.
Bayern are currently eight points off the pace in the Bundesliga and trail Lazio after the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
Personally, I feel they will overturn that deficit and, while Bayer Leverkusen are well clear at the summit, you can’t rule the reigning champions out of the title race just yet.
The SBOTOP Bundesliga betting odds back Leverkusen @ 1.13 and Bayern 5.20.
And it’s to the leaders we head for who is the obvious replacement for Tuchel this summer.
Since then, he has delivered constant Bundesliga highlights and created a multifaceted, attack-minded side.
Leverkusen have never won the German title and, however the adventure ends, the side from North Rhine-Westphalia have given fans plenty of entertainment and ensured they can dare to dream.
His connections with his former club is one with which Bayern could tug on the heartstrings, although they may well face a battle with another of his former clubs, Liverpool, also looking for a new manager next season.
To stake Alonso’s claim, his side has just set a new German record for consecutive competitive matches without loss.
Leverkusen ran out 2-1 winners over Mainz on Saturday to make it 33 games unbeaten, surpassing Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich team of 2020 and 2021 in the record books. The only difference is, Die Werkself have achieved the feat inside a single campaign.
They have only dropped points in four of their 23 league fixtures so far and, in addition, are the only team across Europe’s top five leagues still to taste defeat in 2023/24, while their points and goals tallies (61 and 59, respectively) are club records at this stage in a league season.
They are also through to the DFB Cup semi-finals and the last 16 of the Europa League.
If Alonso is the obvious choice, Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi is also an attractive proposition.
De Zerbi’s status across the game has grown considerably since his appointment as successor to Graham Potter at Brighton approaching 18 months ago, with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola saying earlier this season that the Italian is “one of the coaches I admire most in world football”.
By his own admission, De Zerbi wants to write a new chapter in Brighton’s history but concedes he also wants to challenge for the biggest honours in club football.
Indeed, this summer there will likely be no shortage of clubs potentially clamouring for his signature – perhaps Barcelona or a giant in his native Italy.
His daring style of football has won admirers across Europe and, while league results at Brighton this season have been mixed with only four wins from the Seagulls’ last 18 Premier League games, they have had to cope with the double whammy of selling their main players over the past few years and a lengthy injury list.
Furthermore, they have progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League and you would not back against them going further.
So, there you have it.
When Tuchel departs at the end of the current campaign, there are only two men for the job.
Bayern need to act quickly.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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