Hansi Flick, interim manager of Bayern Munich, celebrates a goal scored by his team in the game against FC Schalke 04 at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, March 3, 2020. /VCG
Hansi Flick, interim manager of Bayern Munich, was named manager on a permanent basis and received a new contract until 2023, the Bundesliga giants announced on Friday.
"FC Bayern are very satisfied with Hansi Flick's work. The team has developed very well under him. They're playing attractive football, which is also reflected in the results. We're the only German club still present in all three competitions. In addition, I like the way he leads the team. His qualities as a person are convincing, he has empathy on his side. FC Bayern trust Hansi Flick, and we're convinced we'll continue to achieve our goals with him in the future," said Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in an official statement.
Hansi Flick (L) talks to Niko Kovac during a pre-season training session of Bayern Munich, July 8, 2019. /VCG
Flick took over the club from Niko Kovac after Bayern's humiliating 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on November 2, 2019. However, the 55-year-old former midfielder turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
In the following 21 games, Flick helped Bayern claim 18 victories, earning 2.47 points per game. Of all managers who have coached the club in at least 10 games in Bundesliga, this is the second-best performance only next to Pep Guardiola (2.52 points), beating even Carlo Ancelotti and Jupp Heynckes.
Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich kicks the ball in the game against FC Augsburg at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2020. /VCG
Flick's success can be concluded in the following four categories:
1. He helped Bayern achieve a balance between offense and defense. They only allowed 14 goals and kept 12 clean sheets in 21 games while scoring 48 goals in 16 Bundesliga games.
2. Flick helped Thomas Muller find his role again. The Bayern icon did not miss a single game since Flick took over and dropped 10 goals and 18 assists, becoming the team's third-best scorer after Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry.
3. Flick found more promising young blood for Bayern. After injuries forced Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule out, Flick moved David Alaba from left to center back and put 19-year-old Alphonso Davies in Alaba's position, only to find that Davis continued to get better.
4. Flick managed to improve Bayern's bench via his decision of removing Philippe Coutinho from the starting-lineup.
Hansi Flick (C), interim manager of Bayern Munich talks to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (R), chairman of the club, after the game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at PreZero Arena in Hoffenheim, Germany, February 29, 2020. /VCG
"It's important for FC Bayern that a coach understands the club's philosophy. Hansi was a player and later an assistant coach at FC Bayern. Now he's head coach for the long term. We're heading in a good direction. Hansi knows the club's mentality, he knows maximum success is the benchmark for FC Bayern, and I'm delighted we can develop our idea of the club and of football along with him in the years to come," said Oliver Kahn, board member of Bayern.
"I'm looking forward to taking on the upcoming tasks along with my staff and the team. The talks with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić were very good and in a spirit of good faith. We've determined the direction for the upcoming years. I'm sure we can achieve a lot together," said Flick himself.