Arsene Wenger is reportedly now the “favourite” to take the vacant manager’s job at Bayern Munich after Ralf Rangnick’s agent ruled the former RB Leipzig manager out of the position.
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag and Rangnick were thought to be Bayern’s preferred candidates for the job. However, Ten Hag, who coached Bayern’s B team for two years between 2013 and 2015, is reluctant to leave the Dutch champions mid-season.
Meanwhile, when Rangnick’s agent, Marc Kosicke, was asked about the possibility of his client moving to Bayern, he told Bild: “No, Ralf Rangnick is not available. We do not believe that what Ralf Rangnick brings is currently being sought at Bayern. And that’s why it makes no sense to hold concrete talks.”
Bild now believe former Arsenal manager Wenger is the leading candidate for the position, likely in a short-term role until the end of the season.
Wenger was thought to have agreed to take on a senior role at Fifa in September, however, when asked about if he was interested in the Bayern job, he told Bein Sports: ”I came here to speak about the games and you start very strongly there, putting me straight under pressure!
However, when asked if he misses management after two decades at Arsenal, he continued: “Of course! Coaching was my whole life until now and everybody who has coached will tell you the same.
“You miss the intensity. There’s some things you miss a lot, and some things you don’t miss. So I enjoyed as well things I don’t miss too much. ‘But on the other hand, winning football games, preparing a team for a game, developing players and getting satisfaction and shared emotions is something that you miss.
“So of course yes, I was responsible at 33 years of age and coached until 69 without interruption at top level. So that is 36 years without stopping. ‘So on the other hand, even if I miss it, to get a little bit out of that pressure for a year was not too bad for me – people who know me well say I’m more relaxed, it’s true!”
Bayern parted ways with Niko Kovac after the club were thrashed 5-1 by the manager’s former side Eintracht Frankfurt. His side had conceded 16 goals in 10 games – the worst record of any team in the top half of the Bundesliga - and currently trail leaders Borussia Monchengladbach by four points.
