Bayern’s Oliver Khan, others under pressure over club’s fortune

Martin Kloth and John Bagratuni, dpa l Friday, April 21, 2023

 MUNICH – Bayern Munich’s recent modest results and decision making have mounted pressure on CEO Oliver Kahn and board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic, making Kahn’s future in the team very uncertain.

The former Germany and Bayern captain Kahn took over from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 2021. He and Salihamidzic have been criticised lately over the surprise release of coach Julian Nagelsmann, with Thomas Tuchel now in charge but the club exiting in the German Cup and Champions League over the past fortnight and another Bundesliga title also not guaranteed.

“Now Kahn is trembling,” the Bild paper said in an editorial on their website on Thursday in reference to his position, the day after a 1-1 draw with Manchester City sealed their European exit.

Bild said that Kahn’s results as CEO with only Bundesliga titles was “not Bayern-like” and that like Nagelsmann he must be measured by success.

Kicker sports magazine struck a similar line when it dismissed a Kahn statement that Bayern have the best squad in club history as “nonsense” and also highlighted “permanent unrest” at the club with internal matters frequently leaked.

It said Bayern’s famous Mia san Mia (We are who we are) attitude had ended with the exit of Rummenigge and former president Uli Hoeneß, who is still a powerful figure on the supervisory board.

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“The question is when their actions will be called into question, how long the still powerful Hoeneß will watch the goings-on in and with the supervisory board. After all, the change of coach card has already been played,” Kicker said.

Former Bundesliga player Jan Aage Fjörtoft, now a TV pundit in his native Norway, went even further when he tweeted on Thursday: “I have been told that there is ‘an ongoing process’ and a ‘matter of time’ before Oliver Kahn … is removed from his position.”

Former Frankfurt player Fjörtoft added “there was talk” that Bayern president Herbert Hainer could fill the role on an interim basis or even ex-president Uli Hoeneß return.

Fjörtoft suggested that Salihamidzic was safe for now because he was seen as Hoeneß’ man.

Fans were also critical as they unfurled a huge banner towards the end of Wednesday’s game which read: “Goals may be missed – but not the values of the club! Question leadership policy!”

Kahn was defiant post-match, insisting that “we will attack again next season” and again defending the change of coach four weeks ago.

“We are totally convinced that with Thomas Tuchel we will sooner or later be where we all want to be again, at the top, in Europe as well,” Kahn said.