Niko Kovac re-introduces Bayern Munich’s team council with six players

Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac is taking steps to ensure that the locker room stays in alignment over the course of the season and has re-introduced the team council to try and help maintain a smooth working relationship with his roster.

The team council will effectively represent the interests of the players and act as a liaison between the roster, the coach, and the front office. Kovac’s primary goal was to “simplify and improve the communication between him and the team.”

Per Sport Bild (as captured by tz), Kovac has his three captains Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, and Robert Lewandowski as part of the group, along with Thiago Alcantara, David Alaba, and Joshua Kimmich. Kovac seems happy to have made the move:

I reintroduced the team council and determined that it represents the whole team. Thiago is an absolute leader on and off the pitch. David Alaba has been involved for a long time and has worked his way up to this role. Joshua Kimmich also represents the younger generation.

Lewandowski, Müller, Neuer, Thiago and Alaba were part of the last team council under Carlo Ancelotti before it was dissolved.

BFW Analysis

Kovac absolutely made some quality choices for his council based on tenure, leadership, and overall importance to the locker room. While a team council does not guarantee there won’t be issues, it does go a long way in helping the players feel like they are represented and have a voice with this coach.

This was a savvy move by Kovac, who has the luxury of having a ton of talent on his roster, but the unenviable task of having to manage it successfully on a daily basis.