May 30 – In an unexpected move, Bayern Munich have parted company with CEO Oliver Kahn (pictured left) and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić (pictured right) – just minutes after snatching their 11th straight Bundesliga title on a dramatic final day of the season.
Bayern’s title celebrations were quickly overshadowed by the fallout from the double firing which came after they secured the title from under the noses of Borussia Dortmund on goal difference.
“Instead of celebrating, now we have the next issue,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel.
Both Kahn and Salihamidžić had been under pressure following Bayern’s dip in form. The Bundesliga title race was the closest in years after Bayern had comfortably won the previous 10, while there were quarterfinal exits in both the Champions League and German Cup.
Club president Herbert Hainer said the decision to get rid of the pair was made Friday -– before the team’s unexpected Bundesliga success.
Dortmund were leading by two points going into the final round and just needed to beat Mainz at home Saturday to be sure of becoming German champion. Instead, they drew 2-2 whilst Bayern won at Cologne.
Tuchel seemed shocked by the club’s decision to fire the men who had brought him to the club as Julian Nagelsmann’s replacement in March.
“The two were largely responsible for the fact we went on this journey together. That’s why I have to process it now,” Tuchel said. “But I’m assuming that I’ll continue on my path at Bayern.”
Bayern said supervisory board vice-chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen will take over as CEO from Kahn, while a successor for Salihamidžić still needs to be found.
Kahn, the former German national team goalkeeper and Bayern captain, returned to the club in 2020 on a five-year contract, initially as a member of the supervisory board before taking over in 2022 from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as chairman and CEO.
“It was a difficult decision to part ways with Oliver but we came to the conclusion that based on the overall development a restaffing of the top position in the board,” Bayern said.
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