Former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel is an option for the German Football Association (DFB) to replace Germany head coach Hansi Flick, according to Kicker.
Tuchel’s availability is prompting the DFB to consider Flick’s future.
Flick’s position as Germany’s manager was still secure after Die Mannschaft crashed out of the group stage at the second consecutive World Cup.
However, the departure of Oliver Bierhoff, who resigned as sporting director of the DFB yesterday, has changed the dynamic.
Flick said he was deeply affected by the resignation of his long-time companion: “My coaching team and I are finding it difficult at the moment to imagine how the gap created by Oliver’s departure can be closed professionally and personally.”
He has reason to look over his shoulder, especially with Tuchel available and interested in the job.
The DFB is still determining whether they will stand by Flick with their eyes set on the 2024 European Championships on home soil.
They know they need a good showing after two poor World Cup campaigns.
Tuchel was previously at Chelsea, where he led the London club to their second Champions League title and an FA Cup final in his first season.
He led them to win the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup the following season. They also reached the FA and Carabao Cup finals.
Todd Boehly and Clearlake consortium took over Chelsea this summer and struggled to get along with the former Mainz 05 boss. It did not help that the results were regressing, and the performances were poor.
Chelsea sacked Tuchel after a 1-0 Champions League loss to Dinamo Zagreb in September 2022.
Before Chelsea, the 49-year-old enjoyed a terrific spell at Paris Saint-Germain. He won the domestic treble and led the club to the Champions League final.
Before that, he was at Borussia Dortmund, where he won the DFB-Pokal. He is arguably the most renowned German manager not named Flick or Jurgen Klopp.
It is now up to the DFB if they will sack Flick or stick with him through to Euro 2024. The ball is in their court.
As for the position of sporting director, Hertha Berlin’s Fredi Bobic and Austria’s head coach Ralf Rangnick are the top candidates to replace Bierhoff.
