Nagelsmann’s road to Munich may have hit a detour after Hoffenheim’s dip in form.

It was supposedly a forgone conclusion. 2018 was going to be the year that the 30-year-old Julian Nagelsmann would take the helm as Bayern’s next manager. Following the lackluster campaign of one highly touted Italian coach who shall remain nameless, Nagelsmann was seen as someone forward-thinking who could develop Bayern’s young talent.

Hoffenheim’s current manager did nothing to dispel these rumors, when he reportedly, told the media that it was his dream to coach Bayern (via ESPN FC):

I am very, very happy in my life but Bayern Munich would make me a little bit happier . . . Bayern has always played a prominent role in my dreams.

Bayern Munich are said to be insisting on a German speaking coach for Bayern’s next campaign. Nagelsmann looked like as a candidate who checked all the boxes.

But while Bayern soared under Jupp Heynckes, Hoffenheim’s performance began to suffer. And after poor results in both the Champion’s League and the Europa League, Nagelsmann’s reputation has taken a dive.

With Julian Nagelsmann’s stock falling, other names of potential managerial candidates have come to the fore. Thomas Tuchel and Joachim Löw are the two of the more popular candidates, each with his supporters and detractors.

Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images

However, it seems that the undisputed preference of Bayern Munich’s club President, Uli Hoeness, would be for current Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes to stay at his post for the 2018/19 year. This is unsurprising, considering the turnaround in Bayern’s performance since the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti.

Heynckes, however, has repeatedly rebuffed this request. In order to coerce Heynckes to extend his stay, Hoeness has now put the full-court press on Bayern’s manager in hopes of eventually wearing down his resolve. But Heynckes has so far been unmoved by Bayern’s overtures. He told the press (via ESPN FC) that his answer remained no even if the Bayern bosses “made handstands.”

Although thus far Bayern’s efforts with Heynckes remain unfruitful, the charms of Uli Hoeness are well renowned and should not be underestimated.