Bayern coach ready to rewrite history
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Hansi Flick can write himself into Bayern Munich folklore by lifting the Champions League trophy in today鈥檚 final to complete his 10-month odyssey from interim boss to treble-winning head coach in his first season.
Flick leads out Bayern against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon having already secured the Bundesliga and German Cup.
Yet he was only initially appointed caretaker coach when Niko Kovac was sacked last November following a humbling 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt. It was the 55-year-old Flick鈥檚 first job as a Bundesliga head coach.
鈥淲e can all be happy that we chose Hansi Flick and put our trust in him,鈥 said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. 鈥淗e鈥檚 returned that trust a hundredfold.鈥
Bayern have won 32 of their 35 games under Flick, earning him a contract until June 2023, and arrive in today鈥檚 final on a 20-match winning streak.
鈥業ncredible鈥
鈥淗is development has been incredible,鈥 ex-Germany defender Per Mertesacker, head of Arsenal's academy, said.
During his 10 months in charge, Flick, 55, has put into practice what he learnt in eight years as assistant coach to Germany boss Joachim Loew until 2014.
鈥淗ansi is growing into this 鈥楯ogi鈥 (Loew) role right now,鈥 added Mertesacker.
At Bayern, Flick has stepped out of Loew鈥檚 shadow, stamping his mark with 鈥渕ore focus on training and match preparation, making difficult decisions,鈥 Mertesacker said.
Thomas Muller, who has seen nine coaches in 12 years with Bayern, is equally impressed.
鈥淥ur game hasn鈥檛 been so well organized since Pep Guardiola (coached Bayern from 2013-16),鈥 said Mueller. 鈥淗ansi Flick has always been a great guy, very clear in what he tells us. But I didn鈥檛 expect him to have the complete package to become Bayern鈥檚 coach.鈥
Mueller, often benched under Kovac, rewarded Flick鈥檚 faith with a record 21 assists in the 2019/20 Bundesliga after returning to the starting side.
Flick has managed the delicate feat of keeping Bayern鈥檚 stars happy without relying on too much rotation.
鈥淗e was able to solve our problems as soon as he arrived,鈥 said midfielder Corentin Tolisso. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a good coach who talks a lot with his players and gives them a lot of confidence.鈥
German magazine Kicker hailed Flick鈥檚 impact after winning his first four games as Bayern scored 16 goals without reply.
鈥淚n a short space of time, he has given Bayern back its identity,鈥 Kicker said.
鈥淏ayern are once again dominating: The ball is flowing, they鈥檝e regained control, the movements between the lines is right. The game is more structured.鈥
Bayern have steamrolled opponents to reach the final by scoring 42 goals in 10 straight wins. The pinnacle was their jaw-dropping 8-2 thrashing of Lionel Messi鈥檚 Barcelona in the quarterfinal.
Robert Lewandowski, the Champions League鈥檚 top-scorer with 15 goals, has scored 55 times this season including a career-best 34 in the Bundesliga.
After injuries forced the former Bayern and Cologne midfielder to retire at 28, Flick had spells coaching lower league clubs.
His break was landing the plum job as Loew鈥檚 assistant to the Germany team after the 2006 World Cup.
After helping mastermind Germany鈥檚 2014 World Cup triumph, Flick then became sports director of the German FA until 2017. He joined Bayern as Kovac鈥檚 assistant in July 2019 and the rest is history.
鈥淗ansi has a clear idea of what he wants to convey to his players,鈥 said Loew when Flick was appointed Bayern coach. 鈥淚 knew he would have a good start, but I believe Bayern will also give him confidence.鈥
Victory today will see Flick graduate in ten months from interim coach to landing the treble for only the second time in Bayern鈥檚 proud history after Jupp Heynckes achieved the feat in 2013.
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