Despite winning the title - Bayern Munich sack Salihamidzic and Kahn

It is an incredibly ruthless decision that very much sums up Bayern Munich in a nutshell. On the same day, the German record champions won their 11^th Bundesliga title in a row; the club also decided to relieve CEO Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic from their respective jobs. 

“The decision to part ways with Oliver Kahn was anything but easy for the Supervisory Board,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer said in a statement released by the club. “Nevertheless, due to the overall development, we have come to the decision to make a new appointment at the top of the executive board." The club also confirmed that Salihamidzic would not continue as director of sports and that the club is now going to look for a successor.

"Is this coming now?,” Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller said right after the final whistle amidst the title celebrations when confronted with the news by Sky Germany. “A minute after the final whistle? I didn't know anything about it until now." That, too, is telling; once again, it is the off-field news that dominates the headlines rather than the on-field achievements. 

Salihamidzic: €145m spent on new players this season

The criticism surrounding Kahn has been that the club’s culture has suffered since the former goalkeeper took over as CEO. Sources have complained about the corporate culture at Bayern since Kahn has taken over. The sense was that Kahn was too cold and that he would not interact enough with club employees. The 53-year-old was not in Cologne to see his team lift the title and later tweeted that he was forbidden to be with the club on Saturday. 

Salihamidzic was at the game against Köln. But his sour expression throughout the match pretty much confirmed the news that made the round and would later be made official. After spending €145.5 million on new players this season, Salihamidzic was released from his duties. In his case, the decision-makers felt that Salihamidzic, despite spending a record amount of money in a single season, the squad still had significant shortcomings. 

Whether it was Sadio Mané, Ryan Gravenberch, or Noussair Mazraoui, Bayern’s new arrivals did not have a significant impact. Then there was the oversight of signing a new no.9 and the firing of Julian Nagelsmann, which almost led to a title-less season. With that in mind, the decision-makers did not feel that Kahn and Salihamidzic were the right people to steer the club through what is now undoubtedly a bit of a transition period in which the club will have to make key signings and renew contracts with Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies. 

Ruthless Bayern Munich: The recipe for success?

For the outside world, Bayern’s decision to sack Kahn and Salihamidzic would appear brutally ruthless. But it is that sort of decision-making that has secured the club’s spot at the very top of German football. 

It will, however, be interesting to see what comes next. Former president Uli Hoeneß and former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge are expected to play a big part in the decisions that now have to be made. But one thing is for certain, Bayern rarely make big mistakes, and when they do, they correct them quickly, and that might be bad news for anyone hoping for a more competitive Bundesliga.