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As debate rages in the footballing community about who should be the next head coach of Bayern Munich, Jupp Heynckes — the man who needs no introduction — has already made up his mind. While interim coach Hansi Flick suffered his first loss against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, Jupp thinks Bayern have already found the man who can lead them into a new era.
Speaking to kicker, the former treble-winning coach said:
Hansi Flick is predestined for this job as the head coach of FC Bayern and is the ideal man for this position, in fact beyond this 2019-20 season.
Such a resounding endorsement is extremely rare from a man like Jupp, who has mostly shied away from the spotlight following his retirement at the end of the 2012-13 season (barring his brief caretaker role in 2017-18). Heynckes went on to explain further, saying,
He is familiar with the club and the extreme perception of entitlement in Munich. It’s not about the little snapshots, but rather about the coach’s fundamental know how, his expertise and human touch, his philosophy. He is a gem of a coach. Such talent must be recognized and developed.
Within a short time, he made the team look completely different, playing attractive and team-oriented football. FC Bayern now has the great chance to have a coach over a long period of time, who can shape an era.
Well, I suppose that’s it then. Hansi Flick is the man for the job, right? Well Bayern Munich aren’t run by Ed Woodward, so unlike Manchester United we’ll probably take our time while choosing the next coach. But Flick’s work has received praise from all corners, and Jupp Heynckes is only the most recent high-profile individual to add his voice to the discussion. Perhaps there really is something special about him, something that Bayern maybe lacked in recent coaching hires.
What happens next?
Right now, Bayern Munich are coming off the back of a tough loss against Bayer Leverkusen, and coming up next is an away trip to league leaders Borussia Monchengladbach followed by a visit from Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur at the Allianz Arena.
How Flick navigates those two fixtures will speak volumes about his ability as a coach. Peter Bosz exposed several weaknesses in the Bavarians’ game, including a susceptibility to pressing and fast counterattacks — both of which will need to be addressed. Can he rise to the challenge?