It’s now official: FC Bayern has extended the contract of sporting director Christoph Freund ahead of schedule. The 49-year-old has signed a new contract through June 30, 2029, and will thus remain a long-term member of the sporting leadership of Germany’s record champion.
Signs of the extension had already become clear in recent days. President Herbert Hainer had recently stated publicly that he was “very confident” that Freund would extend his contract in Munich. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen had also announced that an agreement would be reached shortly. Now the matter is finally settled.
Freund joined Bayern Munich from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2023. Prior to that, the Austrian had spent more than 17 years in various roles within the sports management of the Austrian first-division club. Since then, he has become a key figure in the sports department at FC Bayern.
Dreesen raves about Freund
At the time of the announcement, CEO Dreesen particularly highlighted Freund’s importance in sporting decisions and his close collaboration with head coach Vincent Kompany.
“Christoph Freund plays a central role in all of our sporting decisions—and we’re delighted that he’ll continue to work for FC Bayern in the future. The successes of recent years are in part due to his outstanding work. Christoph maintains excellent communication with Vincent Kompany, is closely involved with the team, and at the same time keeps an eye on the entire sporting operation.”
Freund’s responsibilities extend far beyond his work with the professional team. Since his arrival, he has been tasked in particular with fostering integration between the academy and the professional ranks. According to Dreesen, the sporting director has even exceeded expectations in this regard.
Sports Director Max Eberl is also pleased about the continued collaboration: “Christoph is a valuable part of our team, a key link in the sports department—from the pros and staff all the way to the FC Bayern Campus.”
With this move, the record champions are consistently continuing their long-term personnel planning at the executive level. Bayern had previously extended the contracts of Eberl and Dreesen through 2029.
Freund: Bayern has become a “matter of the heart”
Freund himself made no secret of the fact that he now strongly identifies with the club. “I am very happy to be able to continue contributing to the further development of FC Bayern in the future. FC Bayern is one of the greatest clubs in the world, and for me, this role has become a labor of love since I started here.”
The Austrian still has big plans with the Munich club. “Together, we’ve embarked on an exciting journey, and we still have a lot we want to accomplish.”
Since Freund took office, Bayern has won two German championships, the DFB Cup, and the German Super Cup twice. Now, together with Eberl and Kompany, he will shape the club’s athletic development in the coming years.
His goal is clear: “It’s incredibly fulfilling to keep setting new directions here together, to keep FC Bayern right where our fans—and all of us—want to see it: right at the very top.”