Max Eberl is celebrating sporting success with FC Bayern, but behind the scenes the future of the sports director still seems unclear. How firmly is Eberl really sitting in the saddle on Säbener Straße?
When Max Eberl came to Munich in March 2024, he was considered FC Bayern’s preferred candidate – including Uli Hoeneß. The honorary president campaigned for the ex-Gladbach manager as sports director early on. But it was also clear: Anyone who works for the record champions is in Hoeneß’s direct sphere of influence.
The relationship between Eberl and Hoeneß – between trust and criticism
Eberl has felt this again and again over the last two years. His work was quickly viewed critically by the supervisory board again and again – the Bayern patriarch in particular publicly commented on the work of the sports director several times and not always in a favorable manner.
Like recently after FC Bayern’s cup success: Hoeneß’ statements about the future of the sports director attracted attention. The 74-year-old spoke of a “60:40” tendency for a contract extension, but at the same time added: “There are still doubts” – despite the sporting success, which bears not only Kompany’s signature but also Eberl’s.
Hoeneß: Eberl has “a big share in the sporting success”
It was he who lured Michael Olise and Luis Diaz to the Isar, and it was he who extended the contract with coach Vincent Kompany early – a move that could prove to be strategically wise in the long term, especially after Pep Guardiola’s departure from Manchester City. Even Hoeneß recently admitted that Eberl played “a big part in this season’s success.”
Nevertheless, Eberl often seems to be under special scrutiny within the club. Positive developments are often viewed as a collective achievement by the club, while bad decisions are quickly linked to the club as a person. According to media reports, parts of the club management accuse him of acting too quickly when it comes to transfers or of not adequately coordinating decisions internally.
One of Eberl’s critics is Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Former sports director Hasan Salihamidzic, who was coldly dumped three years ago, knows all this. “I had to go through that too. At FC Bayern you have to expect everything, especially when Uli Hoeneß, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Herbert Hainer are there. There is always an interview that you don’t expect,” said Salihamidzic on Sport1.
According to reports, Rummenigge in particular is considered a critical voice towards Eberl within the supervisory board. The main topics discussed are communication channels, transfer policy and increasing salary structures within the squad. Critics complain that Eberl does not always inform important committees early enough or sometimes acts too aggressively in negotiations – as with the contract extensions with Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano and Joshua Kimmich. In the eyes of Hoeneß & Co., they were financially too costly. There are no official figures, but according to reports, Davies’ signature alone was associated with a signing fee of around 20 million euros.
Eberl reacts calmly to criticism
Eberl himself usually reacts publicly in a calm, controlled and diplomatic manner. He replied matter-of-factly to Hoeneß’s most recent statements: He was ready to move on – “if you want to.”
A possible contract extension for Eberl cannot be officially discussed until July at the earliest, as board contracts at FC Bayern are traditionally only extended a year before they expire. The future of the sports director is likely to be discussed intensively again at the next meeting of the supervisory board in August.
Video: Max Eberl on Hoeneß’ statements
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Source: Sportschau May 23, 2026 – 5:00 p.m
