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Earlier today, Hansi Flick confirmed after Bayern Munich's victory against Wolfsburg that he has asked the club to terminate his contract by mutual consent. With Joachim Low set to step down as Germany manager after the European Championships, he has been earmarked to take over the reins from the World Cup winner.
While Flick's return to Die Mannschaft is not set in stone, it remains likely that he will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the current campaign after a stunning spell in charge of the Bavarian giants.
Speaking after the 3-2 win against Wolfsburg, the 56-year-old admitted that he wanted to be the one who broke the news to his Bayern Munich squad.
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"I want to terminate my contract this summer, that is a fact. It was important to me that the team finds out about it from me personally. I already told the people in charge after our Champions League elimination during the week"
"Of course the DFB is an option that every coach has to consider. But for me the last few weeks have not been easy, I was in the process of informing the club and my team, which was very important. There's nothing more to say"
With Flick looking increasingly likely to depart the Allianz Arena at the end of the season, here are five managers who can replace him at Bayern Munich.
#5 Jupp Heynckes
Surely not? When it comes to Jupp Heynckes and Bayern Munich, I guess you can never say never. The legendary German has enjoyed four different stints with the Bavarian giants over the course of his career and is one of the greatest managers in the history of the beautiful game.
While we can categorically rule this one out because the 75-year-old is officially retired, Bayern Munich might be tempted to bring him back temporarily, as they pursue one of their long-term targets.
Heynckes, though, is unlikely to return to the managerial hot-seat, but the fact that he is automatically linked with the job every time there is a vacancy at Bayern Munich warrants him a mention.
#4 Ralf Rangnick
Ralf Rangnick is a household name in the Bundesliga and has been linked with a handful of big jobs in the past 12 months, with the German coming close to taking over the reins at AC Milan at the start of the 2020-21 season. However, the move never materialized, as the Serie A giants opted to stick with Stefano Pioli.
Hailed as one of the most influential figures in world football, Rangnick has worked with several top clubs across Europe in different roles and could fit in like a glove at the Allianz Arena.
With other top coaches like Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel currently unavailable, Bayern could appoint an experienced head like Rangnick for a year before pursuing their long-term targets.
#3 Massimiliano Allegri
Max Allegri has been heavily linked with the Bayern Munich job, but it could be argued that the Italian wouldn't quite fit in at the Allianz Arena. While he is a proven winner who has won several titles with AC Milan and Juventus, his style of play doesn't really go hand in hand with the footballing philosophy of the Bavarian giants.
Nevertheless, Allegri's name has been thrown into the hat by media outlets across the world. After his departure from Juventus, he has been linked with several high-profile jobs across Europe and is unlikely to reject advances from Bayern Munich.
As per Fabrizio Romano, the record Bundesliga champions are yet to make an approach for him as things stand. However, stranger things have happened in football, so we can't rule this one out. Not yet, at least.
#2 Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag could emerge as an intriguing option for Bayern Munich in the coming months. The Ajax manager's brand of attacking football falls hand in hand with the Bavarians' philosophy, while he is no stranger to the Allianz Arena due to his role with Bayern Munich 2 from 2013-2015.
After Niko Kovac's dismissal, Ten Hag was one of the leading candidates to take over the reins at the club. However, Hansi Flick was given the job on an interim basis and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ten Hag has proved to be one of the most exciting managers in world football and could well move to Bayern Munich at the end of the current season.
#1 Julian Nagelsmann
The mutual admiration between Bayern Munich and wonderkid manager Julian Nagelsmann is the worst kept secret in world football. While all the other options managers on the list have a red flag or two against their names, it could be argued that Nagelsmann is tailor-made to take over the reins at the Allianz Arena someday.
The 33-year-old is currently in charge of an exciting RB Leipzig team, but he is unlikely to reject advances from Bayern Munich if they come calling for him at the end of the season. The Bavarian giants usually tend to poach the brightest prospects of German football -- be it managers or players -- and Nagelsmann could well be next in line.
However, earlier this week, he dismissed claims that he was set to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season after it was reported by German media outlets that he had been chosen as Hansi Flick's successor.
"There have been no talks and we are currently in no talks. The country needs new sources. I don't know where he got his info from."
Bayern Munich's interest in him is well-documented and if they get their way, the 33-year-old is expected to be on the touchline at the Allianz Arena next season.
