MUNICH – Bayern Munich’s current success under Vincent Kompany wasn’t the initial plan. Honorary president Uli Hoeneß has revealed the club seriously considered Oliver Glasner as their head coach before ultimately settling on the Belgian manager. The revelation, reported widely on March 29-30, 2026, sheds light on the club’s managerial search process and highlights how close Glasner came to taking the helm at the Allianz Arena.
Hoeneß confirmed that Glasner was a top candidate in 2024, but a move was blocked by his then-club, Crystal Palace. “He would have come,” Hoeneß stated, according to SPORT1, “had Crystal Palace released him.” This disclosure adds another layer to the narrative surrounding Kompany’s appointment and the alternatives Bayern explored.
The timing is particularly noteworthy given Kompany’s impressive record with Bayern. In 98 competitive matches, he’s secured 74 victories and only suffered 11 defeats, establishing himself as a successful appointment. However, Hoeneß’s comments underscore that Kompany wasn’t the first choice, initially ranking as “number four or five” on their list of potential managers.
Hoeneß openly admitted the initial skepticism surrounding Kompany. “We were initially skeptical, he was number four or five with whom we spoke,” he said. The club initially focused on other prominent names, including Julian Nagelsmann, Ralf Rangnick, and Thomas Tuchel. Glasner, however, consistently featured prominently in discussions.
The Austrian coach, who previously managed Eintracht Frankfurt, reportedly expressed a strong desire to join Bayern. Hoeneß had previously alluded to Glasner’s interest, stating the coach “absolutely” wanted the job. While Glasner himself didn’t publicly confirm the extent of the negotiations in late 2024, he also didn’t dismiss the reports, noting it was premature to discuss events from months prior.
The situation with Crystal Palace proved to be the decisive factor. The London-based club refused to allow Glasner to leave, effectively ending Bayern’s pursuit. This prompted the Bavarian giants to re-evaluate their options, eventually leading them to Kompany.
Interestingly, Bayern sought the opinion of Pep Guardiola before approaching Kompany. Guardiola, who previously worked with Kompany at Manchester City, reportedly gave a glowing endorsement, advising Bayern to “take him blindly.” This positive assessment, coupled with favorable impressions from Christoph Freund and Max Eberl during initial meetings, ultimately swayed the club towards appointing Kompany.
Hoeneß’s revelations offer a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of Bayern Munich’s decision-making process. It highlights the club’s thorough approach to identifying potential managers and the unexpected turns that can occur during a managerial search. The story also underscores the importance of external factors – in this case, a club’s willingness to release a manager – in shaping the landscape of European football.
For Bayern fans, the news provides context to Kompany’s appointment and a reminder of the alternatives considered. While Kompany has proven to be a successful choice, the fact that Glasner was so close to becoming Bayern’s manager adds an intriguing “what if” scenario to the club’s recent history.
The situation also raises questions about Glasner’s current position at Crystal Palace and whether he might be a target for other top European clubs in the future. His reputation as a capable and ambitious manager remains intact, and he could emerge as a contender for other high-profile roles in the coming seasons.
Bayern Munich will next face [insert next opponent and date here – *verification needed*] in [insert competition here – *verification needed*]. The team will be looking to continue their winning form under Kompany, building on the success that has already established him as a key figure at the Allianz Arena.
What are your thoughts on Hoeneß’s revelations? Do you feel Oliver Glasner would have been a successful Bayern manager? Share your opinions in the comments below.
