Report: Hansi Flick could leave Bayern Munich this summer due to disagreements with the board

Let me just preface this by saying — this rumor is VERY unlikely to be true, but in case it is, it would be devastating. According to a report by Bild (in their print edition) Hansi Flick’s future at Bayern Munich may be in jeopardy this summer. Why? It’s not because he’s getting sacked — Flick could leave on his own.

With Karl-Heinz Rummenigge set to step down as Chairman after this season, Flick would be deprived of his main contact and supporter at the club. As per Bild’s report, the coach’s relationship with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and incoming CEO Oliver Kahn is nowhere near as good. He doesn’t see eye to eye with the new bosses on the subject of transfers, as clearly evidenced by the sidelined roles played by Bayern’s new signings this summer.

Photo by M. Donato/Getty Images for FC Bayern

As further evidence of discord within the ranks, Brazzo and co. apparently planned to go into the new season without offering Jerome Boateng a contract. Flick, however, wants to keep the world-cup-winner on his roster, especially with the impending loss of David Alaba to Real Madrid.

Hence, he implored KHR to intercede, and which opened the door for a contract extension. With KHR set to leave, you can see how Flick would be concerned about having his voice be heard with regard to squad planning.

According to Bild, the feeling within the team is that the current squad isn’t as strong as the one that won the treble. However, the club leadership feels that it’s the coach’s job to bring the new signings up to the level required. It’s understandable that Flick, who has already achieved everything possible at Bayern, might see his reputation come under threat due to the bosses’ view on transfers.

He has already clashed with Brazzo before, back in the winter of 2019 over squad reinforcements. Back then, Kahn acted as mediator between the two parties. However, Kahn is allegedly more concerned with his future plans for Bayern, and does not visit the training building very often (albeit, due to the coronavirus pandemic). As a result, he doesn’t enjoy a strong relationship with the coach, which is the polar opposite of Rummenigge.

If not Bayern, then where?

Per Bild, Flick might have offers from the German national team, who are (or should be) looking to move on from Joachim Low. As a former assistant to Low, Flick knows the people in charge at the DFB quite well, and it would be an ideal job for him if he were to walk away from Bayern.

In addition, he has a good relationship with the sporting people at Hoffenheim, and may be chosen to take over a squad where he has full control over the club’s direction. Meanwhile, there are clubs in the Premier League who would covet the services of a treble winner, especially one whose playstyle so resembles that of Jurgen Klopp. Real Madrid and Barcelona might also be looking for new coaches in the summer, and you can bet that they would try for Flick if he’s available.

What does this mean?

If Bild’s reporting is accurate, then this would be devastating news for Bayern fans. We’ve finally found a coach who is a straight-up Heynckes regen, who is loved by the squad and has the tactics to match. Having him walk away would be devastating for the club, especially if it was allowed to happen over transfer disagreements.

On the other hand, it’s very unlikely that either party would let it get that far. Flick knows that he’s in a good place at Bayern Munich, and even Bild mentions that he enjoys training with the squad at present. While working with Brazzo and co. may be difficult, the club still has plenty of time to get new transfers in and boost the quality of the squad. And even with the loss of Thiago Alcantara and David Alaba, Bayern has one of the best squads in Europe — Flick wouldn’t get that kind of quality anywhere else.

Flick knows resigning in the summer would be the nuclear option, with no coming back. Not many clubs are likely to come up with an offer that is better than managing Bayern Munich, and the national team job isn’t as attractive as coaching one of the best teams in club football.

Therefore, the risk of Flick walking out is probably minimal at the moment, and Bild are just being sensationalist as usual. However, sensationalism tends to carry grains of truth, and Flick’s contempt of Brazzo’s summer signings shows that all is not harmonious between sporting director as coach. That kind of relationship can’t last — either they fix it, or one of the parties (usually the coach) ends up leaving.