BERLIN (`) — FC Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen says they have enough work for two sporting directors after he introduced Max Eberl on Tuesday.
Bayern had already appointed the former Salzburg sports director Christopher Freund to replace the sacked Hasan Salihamidžić last September, but that didn't stop him from giving one to Eberl Three-year contract until June 2027 to oversee a major restructuring.
Dreesen said on Tuesday that he had spoken to Freund, “a real team player,” about Eberl's possible signing last September.
“There is work, a lot of work for two, and I am sure that as a team it will work brilliantly,” said Dreesen.
Eberl said he would work with Freund “on an equal footing” and that they would also be supported by Dreesen, club president Herbert Hainer and former club bosses Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who sit on the supervisory board.
Eberl previously worked, among other things, as sports director at Borussia Mönchengladbach from 2008 to 2022 and most recently at Leipzig. “It is not possible to run such clubs alone,” he said.
He played 146 games at Gladbach from 1999 to 2004 before turning to management. He resigned as sports director at Gladbach because of burnout. Eberl said he used the eight-month break from football to think, talk and “grow a lot as a person.”
He moved to Leipzig in September 2022, but was sacked a year later due to “his lack of commitment to the club” amid rumors that he was being linked with the Bayern job.
Although he was not involved, Eberl spoke out about Bayern's decision don't continue with coach Thomas Tuchel beyond this season was the right way. However, he still believes the team can win a title this year.
Bayern are eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen with 11 rounds remaining in the Bundesliga and need to overturn a one-goal deficit to Lazio to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“We are in the chasing role, which is a bit unusual for Bayern. “Eight points sounds like a lot, but there are enough games,” said Eberl.
Then he has to look for a new coach, with Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso being one of the favorites. When he took office, the Spanish coach led Leverkusen from the relegation zone to the Bundesliga leaders in his first managerial job.
Eberl tried to sign Alonso to Gladbach in 2021, but the former Real Madrid, Bayern and Liverpool star rejected the coaching offer because he said it was too early. Alonso was the reserve team coach at Real Sociedad at the time.
“We have to find the right coach and then the right players. “It’s best to do it as quickly as possible,” said Eberl, who did not name any favorite candidates.
Eberl also needs to clarify the future of Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich, whose contracts expire next year. Davies has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and Kimmich has looked unhappy in recent games.
“These are all conversations that we have to have now,” said Eberl, which officially begins on Friday.
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