“Many expensive players challenged”
Hoeneß criticizes Tuchel – and mourns Nagelsmann
04.02.2025 – 12:19 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The behavior of Thomas Tuchel during his time at Bayern is not good for honorary president Uli Hoeneß. However, he would have liked to see his predecessor in Munich longer.
Uli Hoeneß criticized ex-Bayern coach Thomas for publicly communicated wishes for newcomers during his time in Munich. “When I think of how many expensive players were repeatedly challenged. Every time we had an injured player, the call was called for new players,” said the 73-year-old in an exclusive conversation with T-Online about today’s national coach , who had trained FC Bayern between spring 2023 and summer 2024.
According to Hoeneß, there was a permanent discussion about players with Tuchel. “I’ve never heard that at Vincent,” he praised his successor Vincent Kompany compared to the 51-year-old.
The frustration of the Bayern patron over Tuchel apparently only referred to its way of working. “In private, our relationship was totally fine until the end,” Hoeneß assured. With Tuchel, but also with Oliver Kahn, whose commitment as CEO of the club ended in the summer of 2023, he “has no personal problem at all.” Tuchel will eventually “come back to the Allianz Arena and then you will greet yourself warmly,” said Hoeneß.
Meanwhile, the long-time Bayern manager described the release of Julian Nagelsmann as a mistake-especially with regard to the lack of coordination with the Supervisory Board. He was “more or less faced with accomplished facts,” said Hoeneß. “And that led to unrest at a time when we could have won all three titles. It was not a disaster situation.”
Nagelsmann was released from his tasks in March 2023 after Bayern had played a clear lead in the Bundesliga table within a few weeks. In the DFB Cup and the Champions League, the Munich team were still there at the time, but then flew from both competitions shortly afterwards. The club only secured the championship on the last match day because leaders Dortmund failed against Mainz at home. A very weak consolation in a season to forget for Bayern.
“Who knows what would have happened if Julian had got the chance. I would have liked to treat these things with a little more patience,” said Hoeneß. Will there be a return to FC Bayern at some point? A question that Hoeneß was unable to answer completely. “He first extended his contract with the DFB until 2028,” he said of the current national coach. “It is also clear that he will work again at some point. I don’t know whether this will be FC Bayern.”