Will Tuchel Stay at Dortmund Next Season?
Thomas Tuchel has had a mixed fortune in his two seasons in charge of Dortmund. He finished second in the league in his first season, but didn’t win any major accolades. In his second season he managed to win the German Cup but had a poor season in the league as they were pipped to second place by RB Leipzig. With the talent and quality at his disposal, the least the fans could expect was them challenging for the title, like they always do. The team not just failed to do well in the league, but also lost to Monaco in the UCL Quarter Final. Agreed, Monaco have had a fantastic season. But still, they were a beatable team. Tuchel’s tactics failed to contain their attack, and the bus blast affected them psychologically. They’ve had their share of bad luck, but still, could an underwhelming season be covered with a cup trophy?
Tuchel has already admitted that his future is up in the air, with speculations rife that his dismissal could be announced as early as the end of May. With that being said, here’s a list of the managers most likely to replace him at the helm:
Lucien Favre
Favourite to replace Tuchel, the current Nice manager isn’t a stellar name, but has had an incredible season. He’s guided Nice to the third position in the league, while also guiding them to automatic qualification to the UCL group stage. His incredible tactical knowledge and man-management has seen him being courted by the German club, and he already has experience in Germany, having previously managed Monchengladbach. According to the bookies, it’s only a matter of time when he’s announced as the manager.
Julian Nagelsmann
Nagelsmann, who has been a revelation in the Bundesliga this season, is being touted as a ready-made German replacement for Tuchel. At the age of 29, he became the youngest manager in the German top flight. And only in his first season in charge of Hoffenheim, he has guided the club to a fourth place finish, and they will play UCL qualifiers next season. However, it won’t be easy for them to recruit him as his excellent season has seen him being targeted by major clubs like PSG and Inter.
David Wagner
A surprise entry on the list, Wagner has caught the eye of many clubs across Europe, having guided Huddersfield Town to the final round of the Championship promotion stage. He was earlier being linked to West Ham and Wolfsburg, but is now being surprisingly linked to the Dortmund job. A complete outsider for the job, but betting companies have slashed their odds on him being appointed.
Laurent Blanc
The French manager, who has been out of a job since being relieved by PSG before this season, was the first manager to be heavily linked with the German club. However, his name has faded from rumours in recent weeks, as he is now being targeted by Barcelona to replace the outgoing Luis Enrique. He isn’t the favourite for the position, and who knows, he might reconsider Dortmund, particularly if Barcelona direct their focus on Valverde.
