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Tuchel and Choupo-Moting: The striker has never been better under any coach

First Mainz, then Paris, now Munich. The paths of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Tuchel crossed several times. How it started, what positions the attacker played and what influence the new Bayern coach had on his career – for Choupo-Moting, Tuchel has been a stroke of luck so far.

Reunited in Munich: striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (right) and coach Thomas Tuchel.

IMAGO/Philippe Ruiz

When Thomas Tuchel is shown through the stadium at his official presentation and shown his future home dressing room, he grins and says: “For the third time – the poor guy.” Jokingly, of course, and looking forward to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. After positions at 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Paris St. Germain, the paths of the coach and the striker crossed again at FC Bayern.

Top-Scorer in Mainz

In 2011, Choupo-Moting switched from Hamburger SV to the 05ers, which Tuchel took over in 2009. Under Tuchel, Choupo-Moting made a total of 81 appearances and started 49 times. Interesting: he started 28 times in left midfield, 18 times in the lead, twice behind and once in right midfield. In the inaugural season 2011/12, Choupo-Moting was the top scorer for Mainz in the Bundesliga with ten goals under Tuchel. At the same time, he was the best provider of assists this season with four assists and thus the top scorer at FSV with 14 points.

Their time together lasted until 2014. Both the player and the coach left the club. The attacker was drawn to FC Schalke 04, the coach after a year off to the district rival Dortmund. Now the two faced each other in the derby – two seasons. In 2017, Choupo-Moting traveled to England, to Stoke, while Tuchel took a year off and started at Paris St. Germain in 2018. And with him: Choupo-Moting, who came into this star ensemble as a welcome option.

The 33-year-old made 51 appearances under Tuchel in Paris. Unlike in Mainz, where he was often used as a left winger, in Paris he was mainly active as a nine. 17 times out of 21 starting eleven nominations, he started up front, twice behind, twice on the left wing. Nine goals resulted in the period from 2018 to December 2020. A good two and a half years later, reunification took place in Munich.

Choupo-Moting has played under no other coach more often in his career than under Tuchel. After the 132 competitive games under Tuchel’s tenure, the time under Julian Nagelsmann follows with 52 games. In addition: Choupo-Moting has not scored more competitive goals under any coach than under Tuchel. The guy isn’t that poor after all.

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