Bayern Munich have appointed Max Eberl as their effective sporting director on a contract until June 2027
Eberl will start work on Friday and joins in a tumultuous time, with the club needing to replace outgoing manager Thomas Tuchel this summer.
The former RB Leipzig man will assume the title of ‘board member for sport’ and will help comprise a trimmed-down leadership team of three members.
It could be seen as a blow to Liverpool, who reportedly approached him in October to succeed Jorg Schmadtke, though reports of their interest have died down. Schmadtke left Liverpool after the January transfer window.
Eberl said: ‘I spent my entire childhood and youth at FC Bayern and in Munich, so it’s something special for me to return in a new role to the club where it all began.
Bayern Munich have appointed Max Eberl as their new sporting director and he starts on Friday
Eberl has previously been sporting director at Borussia Monchengladbach and RB Leipzig
‘The job as Board Member for Sport is a great challenge, which I will approach with a lot of respect and humility, but with even more anticipation.
‘Together with everyone here, I want to do everything I can to ensure that FC Bayern continues to be successful in the future and brings joy to its fans.’
His appointment concludes a nine-month process after they sacked his predecessor, Hasan Salihamidzic, last May.
Salihamidzic and chief executive Oliver Kahn were sacked just hours after Bayern clinched their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title last season.
It’s all change at the top for Bayern, who will operate with just three board members from July after Andreas Jung’s departure.
Eberl will work alongside the chief executive, currently Jan-Christian Dreesen, and chief financial and sales officer (currently Michael Diederich).
Herbert Hainer, chairman of Bayern’s supervisory board, said: ‘We have decided to have three positions on the executive board to become faster, more effective and also more capable of acting.
The radical changes at the top of the organisation are being made to try and resurrect a wilting side who are on the brink of surrendering their Bundesliga dominance.
The Bavarian powerhouses, outwitted by the brilliant Xabi Alonso, are eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the title race.
They are also teetering on the edge of Champions League misery after losing 1-0 to Lazio in Rome earlier in the month, with the second leg to follow on March 5.
His main job will be hiring a replacement for Thomas Tuchel, who will leave in the summer
Bayern sacked previous sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic in May and have not replaced him until now
Liverpool had reportedly approached him to replace Jorg Schmadtke, who leftafter the January transfer window
Eberl has a strong reputation in Germany for identifying talent and getting deals done, vital skills if Bayern want to rebuild.
He worked as Borussia Monchengladbach’s sporting director from 2008 until 2022 and then spent an eight-month spell with RB Leipzig butwas fired in September due to his ‘failure to commit to the club’.
That supposed lack of commitment was related to his links with joining Bayern.
Over his career, he has signed the likes of Marco Reus and Granit Xhaka for Gladbach before selling them on.
He also brought Lois Openda to Leipzig and oversaw their huge sales of Josko Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Christopher Nkunku in the summer.
On his appointment, Bayern said: ‘We are delighted to have appointed Max Eberl as our new Board Member for Sport.
‘Not only does he have decades of experience in football management, but he also started playing at FC Bayern and turned professional here. We are convinced that he will successfully shape and characterise the future of this club.’
