Bayern Munich name Hasan Salihamidzic as new sporting director
Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have announced Hasan Salihamidzic as the club's new sporting director.
The 40-year-old former winger, a hugely popular figure at the club following nine-trophy laden years there between 1998 and 2007, has agreed a three-year contract and was officially unveiled on Monday.
The position has been vacant since spring 2016, when former incumbent Matthias Sammer asked to be released from the position.
"When I was asked if I wanted to I knew immediately that I would," said Salihamidzic. "When I was here as a player I always gave 100 per cent in every training session and every game, and I'll do the same now as sporting director. I'll be available for the players 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I'm really looking forward to the task."
Watch: Salihamidzic relishing the challenge at Bayern
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"Hasan knows Bayern well, he was here as a player for several years," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "He's a person I wouldn't have liked to play against because he always worked hard and gave his all. He's a very loyal and he speaks five languages, so he can speak to all of our players. He'll be responsible for football and he'll be the link between the coach and the team and the coach and the club."
Salihamidzic, who represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at international level, enjoyed nine trophy-laden years at Bayern, winning six Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cups and the UEFA Champions League in 2001. He joined the record German champions from Hamburg in 1998 and went on to make 230 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern between 1998 and 2007.
He had subsequent spells at Juventus and Wolfsburg before retiring as a professional in 2012. He has since worked as an ambassador for Bayern and travelled with the club on their recent trip to Asia as part of the Bundesliga World Tour 2017.
Watch: Relive Salihamidzic scoring past Manuel Neuer back in the 2006/07 season