Bayern Munich are considering Xabi Alonso, Zinedine Zidane, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as candidates to succeed Thomas Tuchel if the club decides to part ways with the manager this summer.
The pressure has increased on Tuchel following Bayern’s 3-2 loss at Bochum on Sunday, which leaves the German giants eight points behind Alonso’s Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen.
It was also a third straight defeat after they were beaten 1-0 at Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie last week.
Facing a first trophyless season in 12 years, Bayern’s primary plan remains to reach the end of the campaign with Tuchel and assess the situation.
Bayern’s hierarchy immediately decided to stick with Tuchel after the embarrassing defeat at Bochum with the former Chelsea and PSG boss not considering his resignation.
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However, work is going on in the background regarding his potential successor and, in the event of a summer separation from Tuchel, Alonso is considered the preferred solution internally, according to Sky Sports.
The former Liverpool midfielder is the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield this summer after impressing at Leverkusen.
Klopp has recently hailed the Spaniard as the “standout” manager from the new generation of bosses.
Another of the most prominent candidates Bayern have been thinking about too, in the past few hours and days, is former Real Madrid manager Zidane.
There is nothing concrete at this stage, but what Bayern appreciate about the Frenchman is his aura and experience while he is also immediately available.
Zidane, 51, who has been without a job since leaving Real Madrid in May 2021, won the Champions League three times in his managerial time at the Spanish club, while he also won LaLiga twice.
Bayern have also been looking at ex-Manchester United boss Solskjaer as a potential interim solution should they be forced to make a change before the end of the campaign.
Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund knows Solskjaer very well and has been following the Norwegian’s path for years.
However, there have not yet been any concrete discussions about that eventuality.
Solskjaer has been without a job since being sacked by United in November 2021. He spent nearly three years in charge at Old Trafford as he guided United to second in the 2020/21 season and lost the 2021 Europa League final on penalties to Villarreal.
The 50-year-old is currently employed as a UEFA Technical Observer, attending Champions League games and providing reports throughout this season.
