Jupp Heynckes to coach Bayern Munich until end of season
October 4, 2017The 72-year-old Heynckes will take the reins at Bayern for the fourth time, his most recent tenure being in 2013 when he led the side to the Champions League title as well as the Bundesglia crown and German Cup. After winning the treble, Heynckes had said he would be ending his coaching career.
According to the tabloid daily Bild, he will take over from Carlo Ancelotti for the rest of this season. Ancelotti was fired last week after a string of poor results, culminating in a Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain. Ancelotti's assistant Willy Sagnol had filled in as a temporary coach until Bayern's top brass were able to name a more permanent replacement.
Heynckes did not feature prominently in the speculation over who would take over at Bayern. Thomas Tuchel looked to be the immediate favorite. But with Heynckes an interim replacement, the likelihood that last season's Coach of the Year, Hoffenheim's Julian Nagelsmann, lands in Munich have dramatically increased. Rumor had it he would not leave Hoffenheim right away, but with Heynckes steering the ship this campaign, by next season the time for his move could be right.
sms/dr (sid, DPA, Bild)