The match of the 34th round of the German soccer league Cologne vs. Bayern Munich, May 27, 2023. Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel (center).
Cologne – After the dramatic course of the last 34th round of the German league, the celebrations of Bayern Munich's eleventh title in a row on Saturday were overshadowed by the unexpected decision of the club's supervisory board. On its basis, sports director Hasan Salihamidžič and general manager Oliver Kahn, who the club allegedly did not allow to travel to Cologne for the match, were fired immediately after retaining Bundesliga supremacy. Their recall surprised even coach Thomas Tuchel.
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“Instead of celebrating, we have another problem,” Tuchel was quoted as saying by AP. “I knew about it since Friday. The two of them were the reason why we started this journey together. That's why I have to process it now. But I assume that I will continue on my journey at Bayern,” said the 49-year-old German.
Tuchel unexpectedly replaced the sacked Julian Nagelsmann in mid-March. But with Bayern, he was immediately eliminated in the quarter-finals of the German Cup and the Champions League and almost lost the German title with him. Before the last round, the Bavarian team was two points behind leaders Dortmund. Borussia, however, surprisingly lost at home to Mainz, while Bayern won 2:1 in Cologne with a late goal by Jamal Musiala and claimed the 33rd title in the club's history. For only the third time in Bundesliga history, Bayern jumped to first place only in the final round; in 1986, he overtook Bremen at the last moment and 14 years later Leverkusen.
Salihamidžič arrived for the decisive duel, Kahn, another former Munich player, did not. “Unbelievable. A big compliment and congratulations to you (the players)! I've always told you: give it your all until the end and never give up. I'm incredibly proud of you and your success. I'd love to celebrate with you, but unfortunately I can't be because the club didn't let me,” wrote the former goalkeeper on Twitter. He denied the club's claim that he did not travel to the match due to doctors' orders.
Kahn will be replaced as CEO by Jan-Christian Dreesen, vice-chairman of the supervisory board, Bayern has not yet announced Salihamidžič's successor. “The club felt that they had to do something. So they explained it to us, and that's why they made the decision,” said the 33-year-old offensive all-rounder Thomas Müller, who celebrated a record twelfth career title with the team.
