Chelsea fans have been alerted to enormous movements in Germany on Wednesday morning as former boss Thomas Tuchel agrees to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
Tuchel was only appointed as the manager in Bavaria 11 months ago but will once more fail to see out his contract.
The 50-year-old replaced Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern last season despite the Bundesliga giants being in a close title race and in with a shout of progressing in the Champions League knockout stages. With Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen storming to the league this year,
, including the killer blow of a defeat at mid-table VFL Bochum on Sunday. It leaves Bayern eight points behind Leverkusen in the table with Alonso’s men still unbeaten in the league.
Bayern were also defeated in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against Lazio, leaving them up against it to get into the final eight of the competition.
In a statement release on Wednesday, Bayern confirmed the decision to part with Tuchel at the end of the campaign. “FC Bayern Munich and head coach Thomas Tuchel have jointly decided to end their working relationship, which was originally set to run until 30 June 2025, on 30 June 2024,” it reads. “This is the outcome of a constructive discussion between CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Thomas Tuchel.”
Dreesen adds: “In a good, open discussion, we came to the decision to end our working relationship by mutual agreement in the summer. Our goal is to pursue a new footballing direction with a new head coach for the 2024/25 season.
Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga.
“I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard. In the Champions League in particular, after losing 1-0 in the first leg at Lazio, we are convinced we will reach the quarter-finals at a packed Allianz Arena with our fans behind us.”
Tuchel said: “We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season. Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success.”
For many Chelsea fans the club has not been the same since Tuchel left less than 10 games into the 2022/23 season.
Tuchel won the Champions League less than six months after arriving, as well as taking the club to both domestic cup finals in his only full season – which they would go on to lose to Liverpool on penalties.
He also won the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup whilst in charge, securing Champions League football at the same time.
there is no surprise that many supporters have taken the news of Tuchel’s departure as reason to call for an incredible return to the club. Here’s what social media had to say:
@nelsonhands20: I think he should go back to Chelsea
@musdagli24: It will happen in a few years. There’s unfinished business.
@CFC_AL_: If the board fails to get Xabi or De Zerbi, Tuchel is the next best option
@sebjohmercer: Absolutely, he knows the club inside out and he loves Chelsea. No brainer.
@mainsheddy: Yes we want him back he has some unfinished business.
@Dhammy_xx: In a heartbeat.
@YawKing_: Tuchel and Chelsea were a perfect marriage. Golden opportunities like this dont come around many times. @todd_boehly.
@J777MXH: Come back to chelsea tuchel. Come back.
@001_PHC: Tuchel should return to Chelsea.
