Willy Sagnol parts ways with Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic revealed in an interview with Sport Bild that the club and assistant coach Willy Sagnol have parted ways. Sagnol had joined the club in June at the behest of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness as a club-insider to work alongside - and in part oversee - Carlo Ancelotti.

Sagnol’s appointment as assistant coach on a two-year deal failed, however, to have any observable impact on the team. He likewise failed to impress when he briefly assumed the role of head coach in the immediate aftermath of Ancelotti’s firing.

Salihamidzic described Sagnol’s release as an unfortunate part of the business:

Willy has been dismissed along with Carlo Ancelotti’s the coaching staff. Jupp Heynckes wanted to have his trusted people around him; he wanted well-rehearsed automatic processes. Naturally, it wasn’t an easy decision for us; I had even played together with Willy. But we also both know as former professional players: that’s how the job is.

There had been some speculation that Sagnol could take over Hermann Gerland’s role as director of Bayern’s youth academy, but Sagnol reported still views himself primarily as a coach.