Roberto De Zerbi coaching candidate for the record champions?

Speculation about the new Bayern coach is in full swing. Now a new name appears on the list of candidates – it comes as a surprise.

While Thomas Tuchel is trying to bring the season with FC Bayern to a somewhat amicable conclusion, the search for his successor is underway in the background. Many personnel details were discussed immediately after the announcement of Tuchel’s separation in the summer. Names like Xabi Alonso and Zinédine Zidane were mentioned in many places. Neither the protagonists nor the record champions have commented on the rumors so far.

Now, however, a new, less well-known coach name appears in connection with FC Bayern. According to TV channel Sky, Roberto De Zerbi is also in the sights of the bosses in Munich. De Zerbi has been working successfully for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League for two and a half years.

The 44-year-old Italian led national player Pascal Groß’s team to a strong sixth place last season. Brighton is currently in seventh place. De Zerbi previously coached Sassuolo and Shachtar Donetsk, among others. He is said to have an exit clause of around ten million euros from his contract, which runs until 2026.

De Zerbi should be an alternative if signing Alonso doesn’t work out. The Leverkusen player is still considered the top favorite and, according to media reports, is the preferred candidate in Munich. Also with Bayern’s new sports director, Max Eberl. But Alonso still has a contract with the Bundesliga leaders and is also linked with Liverpool FC.

When he was introduced on Tuesday, the new sports director Max Eberl said about the language requirements for the new coach: “It should be German or English, but French is a little thinner for me. That is also a criterion, but not an exclusion criterion. I don’t want to limit myself too much.” So De Zerbi would at least fit the profile. However, Eberl did not want to comment on names.