Official: Bayern Munich hire RB Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund

Huge news coming out of Germany — according to Florian Plettenberg, RB Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund is set to replace Hasan Salihamidzic at Bayern Munich. The 46-year-old, who is the man that uncovered Erling Haaland for the Austrian champions, is apparently set to start in his role from September — i.e. AFTER this transfer window closes.

Here’s Pletti’s full report:

While this doesn’t necessarily affect proceedings for this window, as certain targets have already been signed and Bayern are going all-in on Harry Kane, it shows that Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have some kind of long term strategy in mind. Getting an experienced SD like Freund in at this stage is a good sign, and fans will hope he brings strong talent onto the squad like he did in the Red Bull system for all these years.

With this appointment, the shakeup at the top — started with the firing of Julian Nagelsmann back in March — will more or less be complete. Nagesmann, Kahn, and Brazzo are all gone, and their replacements seem like they’re here to stay.

What will Bayern Munich look like in the coming years? Well, if Christoph Freund is the guy, then you’re looking at the man who’ll have a major impact on that outcome.

Update

Not that it was in doubt, but the move has been officially announced.

From the press release:

Jan-Christian Dreesen, FC Bayern CEO: “We are delighted that we have been able to bring in such an experienced and successful sporting director for FC Bayern in Christoph Freund. We are convinced that he is the right person to strengthen the team in the future, together with Thomas Tuchel’s coaching team and technical director Marco Neppe. It has been mutually agreed with Red Bull Salzburg, where Christoph Freund has done an outstanding job, that he will still fully shape the current transfer period with his long-time employer and will not join us until the beginning of September. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank managing director Stephan Reiter for the constructive talks.”

Christoph Freund: “After the talks with the FC Bayern management, it was clear to me that I wanted to accept this new challenge. I’m really looking forward to giving everything I can, with all my energy and passion, from 1 September onwards, to ensure that this club continues to be so successful in sporting terms in the future, that it continues to be amongst the world’s top teams, and that it inspires its fans with attractive football. It is important to me that a club has an identity, and that is what FC Bayern stands for without question. I am very grateful to Salzburg for 17 successful and emotional years, and I will be just as committed to the club in this transfer period as I am known to be.”