Hansi Flick to continue as Bayern Munich interim coach until the end of the season
Record reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have confirmed that 54-year-old coach Hansi Flick will remain in the job until at least the end of the 2019/20 season.
Flick, who replaced Niko Kovac in the role on an interim basis at the start of last month, has impressed since taking over the reins and Saturday’s late victory over Wolfsburg made it five wins from seven in the Bundesliga under the club’s former assistant coach.
Bayern have also taken maximum points from three games in the UEFA Champions League under Flick to secure top spot in Group B, as well as safe passage to a last-16 meeting with Chelsea in that time.
The 29-time German champions announced last month that Flick would continue until at least Christmas and this latest extension to his stay in the Allianz Arena dugout comes with the proviso that remaining as head coach beyond this season is very much an option.
“Under him as head coach, the on-field development has been outstanding, both in terms of the quality of our play and the results achieved,” said Bayern chairman and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“We set a new record in the 29-year history of the Champions League with six wins in six matches in the group stage, and in the Bundesliga, we have returned to touching distance of the top of the table.
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“I'm convinced that Bayern will continue next year where we left off in the last few games, namely playing attractive and successful football.”
Flick, Joachim Löw’s right-hand man as Germany romped to 2014 FIFA World Cup glory, is now firmly setting his sights on making sure, first and foremost, that Bayern’s solid start under him continues.
“I’m happy that FC Bayern is continuing to place trust in me as head coach,” he said. “I really enjoy working with the team and the coaching team.
“We have achieved a good starting position for the second half of the season in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League.
“Now we're recharging our batteries, and we'll prepare ourselves intensively for the second half of the season at the training camp. Then we’ll try to achieve as many victories and titles as possible.”
Bayern sit third in the Bundesliga at the end of the 2019/20 going into the winter break, just four points off table toppers RB Leipzig. They are back in top-flight action on January 19, when they travel to Hertha Berlin.
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