FC Bayern are celebrating the double, but behind the scenes the situation remains tense. Sports director Max Eberl in particular is still under scrutiny despite the championship and cup win. It is now becoming known that Eberl, of all people, apparently prevented Vincent Kompany from becoming a hot candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City
The discussions surrounding Max Eberl gained new momentum around the cup final, with Uli Hoeneß recently stating publicly that the chances of the sporting director’s contract being extended were „60 to 40“ – along with the comment that there were „still doubts“
Shortly before the final against VfB Stuttgart, the honorary president even went one better on Sky. When asked whether the cup win would strengthen Eberl’s position, Hoeneß answered evasively: „I’m very well disposed towards Max, but I know what the club is thinking.“
After the 3-0 win against Stuttgart, Eberl was open to questions about his own future. The 52-year-old made no secret of the fact that the timing of the statements irritated him. „I was naturally surprised today that it happened like this,“ explained Eberl. He was particularly clear about the timing: „I didn’t think it was the right time on the day of the final.“
At the same time, the Bayern boss was demonstratively calm: „If they don’t want me to continue, I’ll go home. My life will go on,“ said Eberl
Kompany extension a strategic coup
What could help Eberl in the internal power struggle: behind the scenes, he pushed ahead with the contract extension with Vincent Kompany at an early stage, as reported by tz
Back in October 2025, the Belgian extended his contract with FC Bayern ahead of schedule until 2029 – a move that could now prove to be of enormous strategic importance
After Pep Guardiola’s announced departure from Manchester City, Kompany was repeatedly seen as a possible successor at the Skyblues. Guardiola himself had publicly praised the Bayern coach in the past and linked him with a coaching career at the highest level
If Kompany had only been tied down until 2027, intense speculation would have begun by now at the latest
Eberl wanted to prevent a possible City move
Eberl indirectly confirmed that the early extension was also linked to possible developments on the coaching market. „Of course you try to get ahead of a market before something might emerge,“ the sporting director told tz
At the same time, however, he emphasized his confidence in the Bayern coach: „We have noticed what a special coach we have signed.“
Eberl was particularly proud of how smoothly the extension went at the time: „It took a week and it was the first time in a long time that something like this had gone very smoothly.“
Despite the sporting success, Eberl’s future remains open, with the supervisory board due to comprehensively evaluate his work in August
One thing is certain, however: without Eberl’s early action, FC Bayern might have had much greater worries about Vincent Kompany in the summer.