JAMAL MUSIALA HEALTH ISSUES, EXPLAINED: WHY BAYERN MUNICH STAR'S 'ABSENCE SEIZURE' CAUSE HIM TO FAINT

Bayern Munich and Germany star Jamal Musiala has struggled with injuries over the past few years, and the 2026/27 club season presented a fresh start from which to springboard back to his best after over a year of struggling with fitness.

Unfortunately, his preparations for the coming campaign have been halted in concerning fashion, as Musiala has suffered bouts of unconsciousness in consecutive preseason friendlies that have put both his immediate and long-term playing future at risk.

Musiala has collapsed during play in two different matches as Bayern Munich prepare for the upcoming season, which starts for the Bavarian giants on Saturday as they meet Der Klassiker rivals Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercup.

The Sporting News explains what has been the issue for Musiala and what his prognosis is moving forward as he looks to continue his football career safely and responsibly.

Jamal Musiala on-field collapses

Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala has fainted in two consecutive preseason friendlies, sparking concern amongst the global football fanbase.

First, he fell to the ground during a 3-1 friendly victory over RB Leipzig on Saturday, August 15. He looked woozy on his feet, and new Bayern signing Ismael Saibari ran over to assist him, helping the dazed Musiala to the turf safely.

After that incident, Musiala recovered quickly and returned to training, with the medical staff clearing him of any larger concerns. "The most important thing is that he is well," said Bayern Munich executive Max Eberl to The Mirror after the match. "There's nothing more to say about anything else."

Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany, meanwhile, blamed the combination of significant heat and Musiala's recent medical struggles for the initial collapse. According to reports, medical tests revealed no significant issues, and he was cleared to continue playing.

However, Musiala suffered another episode four days later, as he again fell to the turf just four minutes after coming on as a substitute in an August 18 friendly against Heidenheim. There was serious concern amongst players from both teams, who surrounded Musiala while the medical staff rushed on. He was able to walk off under his own power, flanked by Bayern Munich trainers.

What has Jamal Musiala said about his condition?

After the second incident in the friendly against Heidenheim, Jamal Musiala took to social media to reveal that his collapses have been due to a diagnosis of "absence seizures." The full statement on Instagram read:

I'm doing well! I am incredibly grateful for your messages and your support! I understand that many of you are worried. I want to put those worries to rest today and explain the situation.

I have been diagnosed with brief, temporary — but treatable —absence seizures caused by a neurological dysfunction. These can lead to the kind of moments that occurred recently, such as during the match against Leipzig or now in Heidenheim. I know they might look scary at first glance, but for me, they are currently just part of my everyday life. I am receiving excellent medical care for this and remain very optimistic. FC Bayern and my personal support network are right by my side, helping me through this. Importantly, there is no further health risk involved. In close consultation and regular contact with the experts, it was my personal wish to face this challenge head-on. With the medical clearance of the neurologists, I want to continue doing what helps my recovery the most: simply living my daily life and pursuing my passion for playing football. I have taken full responsibility for this decision.

Overall, I feel very positive and am on the right track. What helps me most on this journey is continuing to chase victories and titles with my team and with your amazing support. I hope this helps you understand my situation better. At the same time, I ask for your understanding regarding my wish to keep the details of this matter private—sharing them only with my closest circle, the club, and the medical experts.

Despite claims that the issue is relatively minor, it's hard to imagine that after two straight incidents, Bayern Munich would put him back on the pitch without reconsidering his condition and treatment plan moving forward to prevent more recurrences.

What are absence seizures?

Jamal Musiala revealed after his second on-pitch collapse that he had been diagnosed with "absence seizures" that were causing his recent issues.

According to Massachusetts General Hospital, absence seizures "cause a brief, temporary loss of awareness, usually for 5 to 30 seconds." An individual experiencing an absence seizure "may stare into space or look like they’re daydreaming." Usually, the individual returns to consciousness relatively quickly after an absence seizure.

These kind of symptoms can be managed by antiseizure medications. There are sometimes referred to as "petit mal seizures," which translates as “little illness” in French.

According to the Mayo Clinic, absence seizures are far more common in children, and it is rare that the symptoms persist into adulthood. However, they can sometimes be a precursor to a more serious kind of epilepsy that presents with what are known as "grand mal seizures."

It's unclear if Musiala has experienced these symptoms through his childhood, or if they have just recently begun.

Is Jamal Musiala's condition life threatening?

While this typically does not result in physical injury on most occasions, the situation in which the seizure presents could be extremely dangerous.

If the individual suffers a loss of consciousness during an activity that requires consistent attention, such as driving, riding a bike, or other athletic activity, it can create a situation that becomes dangerous by association.

Jamal Musiala age

Jamal Musiala is 23 years old.

The Massachusetts General Hospital writeup claims that absence seizures can begin in children ages 3 to 8 and are most common in those aged 8 to 15. "Although uncommon, some children continue to have absence seizures into adulthood," the article states.

He has been considered one of the best young players in the world for some time, but as he begins to reach the prime of his career, he has been beset with significant injury concerns.

Jamal Musiala injury history

As he transitions from his developmental years into the peak years of his career, Jamal Musiala has struggled mightily with injuries over the past few years.

At first, it began with muscle injuries, as he picked up a series of short-term issues with his hamstring in late 2023. He missed significant time with a hamstring injury in the latter half of the 2024/25 season, missing the final 71 days of the campaign as well as that summer's UEFA Nations League finals with Germany.

Then, the big injury struck as Musiala suffered a gruesome broken leg in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup during a challenge from then-PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, which saw him sidelined from July through the middle of January 2026.

Musiala returned from his fracture but suffered subsequent ankle issues that disrupted his time through the spring of 2026 and saw him fail to return to his best form by the World Cup later that summer.

- Kyle Bonn

JAMAL MUSIALA SPARKS MAJOR SCARE AFTER COLLAPSING ON PITCH JUST MINUTES AFTER SCORING IN BAYERN'S WIN OVER LEIPZIG

Jamal Musiala collapsed minutes after scoring for Bayern against Leipzig, prompting a medical scare before walking off after treatment at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala sparked worrying scenes after suddenly collapsing on the pitch during his side's 3-1 pre-season victory over RB Leipzig in the Telekom Cup at the Allianz Arena.

Musiala, making his first appearance of Bayern's pre-season, had only been introduced in the 69th minute alongside Ismael Saibari and Alphonso Davies. Twelve minutes later, the Germany international marked his return by scoring Bayern's third goal, converting Saibari's cut-back in the 81st minute to put the result beyond Leipzig.

However, celebrations soon gave way to concern. Only a few minutes after scoring, Musiala appeared disoriented while standing on the pitch and began losing his balance. Saibari spotted his teammate struggling and rushed towards him, helping Musiala down before he could fall heavily.

Joshua Kimmich and other Bayern players immediately called for medical assistance as Musiala remained on the turf. An emergency doctor and members of the medical staff hurried onto the pitch, while a stretcher was also brought out as the Allianz Arena fell silent.

Bayern provide reassuring Musiala update after collapse

There was eventually relief when the emergency doctor signalled with a thumbs-up. Musiala was able to get back to his feet and leave the pitch without being carried off, although he appeared dazed as he made his way towards the tunnel.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl later offered an encouraging update on the 23-year-old's condition.

"The most important thing is that he's OK," Eberl said, while declining to provide further medical details. Bayern had not announced an official diagnosis in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

The match was played in demanding conditions, with Bayern's official website recording temperatures of around 33 degrees Celsius in Munich. Reports in Germany subsequently suggested Musiala had experienced dizziness and circulatory problems, potentially linked to the extreme heat, although the club has not formally confirmed that as the cause.

The incident was particularly alarming given Musiala's recent injury history. He suffered a fractured fibula and a broken and dislocated ankle during Bayern's Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain in July 2025, an injury that kept him out for more than six months. Bayern confirmed last month that he had also undergone a small, planned follow-up operation related to that injury.

Musiala had only recently resumed full team training, and the Leipzig match represented another important step in his preparations for the new campaign.

Before the medical scare, Bayern had taken the lead through Luis Diaz in the 13th minute before Brajan Gruda equalised for Leipzig shortly after half-time. Nathaniel Brown restored Bayern's advantage in the 57th minute before Musiala's 81st-minute strike completed the 3-1 victory.

The result, however, was overshadowed by the sight of Musiala collapsing just minutes after scoring, with Bayern now expected to closely monitor his condition ahead of the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Borussia Dortmund on August 22.

- Probuddha Bhattacharjee

KOMPANY HAS SAVED INCONSISTENT BAYERN FROM PERPETUAL UNREST

Eight months ago, Bayern Munich found themselves teetering on the edge of a crisis that few could have predicted.

The Bundesliga crown, typically their birthright, had slipped through their grasp. In Europe, the Bavarians fell short once again, eliminated by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Behind closed doors, the club's usually steady foundations were anything but as internal tensions simmered at Säbener Strasse, casting long shadows over the summer ahead.

The club's higher-ups had realised that the move to hire Thomas Tuchel as a replacement for Julian Nagelsmann had failed. Meanwhile, Nagelsmann was polishing his reputation with the wider German public, becoming a fairly successful and popular manager of the national team. On top of that, Bayern's own coaching search turned into a public-relations nightmare, with media outlets from Germany and beyond reporting about the long list of coaching candidates who had all declined to join the club.

In the end, Bayern appointed Vincent Kompany, an unlikely solution given that the former Hamburg defender did not come close to staving off relegation from the Premier League with Burnley. Serious questions regarding his inexperience and overall track record as a manager were raised. However, only a few weeks after the 38-year-old's arrival, those inside the club were beginning to praise Kompany's management style. They repeatedly stressed the fact that for the first time in a long time, the club did not seem in a state of unrest.

Kompany and sporting director Max Eberl, who had been a proponent of the former Belgium international before he was hired, get along quite well. Meanwhile, many inside the dressing room seemingly realised that dissent played a part in their failures during the 2023-24 season.

Even players who weren't necessarily happy with their role in the beginning of the season -- such as Leon Goretzka, who started the campaign on the bench -- did not voice their displeasure publicly. What certainly has helped is the fact that Kompany goes out of his way to praise his charges and stress their importance when asked about them by members of the media. He doesn't make statements that leave room for interpretation.

Now that the calendar has turned to 2025, nothing has changed. Kompany is widely respected and steers the ship like he has been in the job for years. The tall, broad-shouldered Belgian exudes an almost Carlo Ancelotti-like poise in how he approaches his team and the media.

There were certainly moment when things could have turned. There was the one-sided loss to Barcelona in the Champions League in October, and three of the Bavarians' final six matches of 2024 resulted in dropped points to Borussia Dortmund, a DFB-Pokal exit at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen and a Bundesliga defeat to Mainz.

Despite those results, everyone inside the facility remained calm, knowing that the club needed to show much more patience than in recent times.

The decision to sack Nagelsmann in March 2023 may have been a valuable lesson because, in the aftermath, many inside the club acknowledged that Bayern moved on far too early from a promising young coach. What's more, the fact that Bayern were turned down by several managers before hiring Kompany can partly be attributed to their previous hire-and-fire mentality. They need to stick with the Belgian, especially when he and his assistants have shown signs of progress with the team.

Multiple sources who spoke to ESPN emphasised that "Vinny," as some call him, does a tremendous job of fostering a positive dressing room culture. Instead of criticising players in news conferences or post-game interviews, Kompany is addressing anything of relevance inside the dressing room, which may also have contributed to the decline in leaks to the media. In the recent past, practically any heated argument between the manager and players would find its way into the notebooks of well-connected journalists in Munich and elsewhere in Germany. Not this season.

Vincent Kompany has restored a sense of calm to Bayern Munich following the turbulence the club has experienced in recent years. Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images

Things came to a head during Tuchel's tenure, when the manager's disagreement with Joshua Kimmich became public. One source specifically told ESPN that players appreciate Kompany's preference for keeping things in-house.

For example, he easily could have put the blame on Manuel Neuer when the veteran goalkeeper was shown a red card in the DFB-Pokal match against Leverkusen last month, a mistake that essentially cost Bayern one trophy this season. Instead, Kompany simply said that his goalkeeper "made a decision. It was close. That's football, and this is part of it."

Returning exciting football to Bayern

Those who have been following Bayern closely may find the current feel-good environment suspicious, because even in times when the club won one trophy after another, there were usually a few conflicts involving players, coaches and boardroom figures. Success helps mitigate tension, though.

Following the loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Oct. 23, Bayern won seven games in a row without conceding a goal. There's visible progress that might lead to Bayern reaching peak form in March, April and May -- when trophies are usually won.

"I like the high press," Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the former chairman of the executive board of Bayern, said in October. "It reminds me of the times under Jupp Heynckes, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti or Hansi Flick when we celebrated this type of fun football. That's why I believe it is important that we have found our way back to it. Our football has not only become more appealing, but you can also feel the excitement of the spectators in the stadium."

Kompany is becoming a respected coaching figure almost overnight. It had been known before he joined Bayern that the former Belgium international was a disciple of Guardiola's brand of football, having played under the Catalan at Manchester City between 2016 and 2019.

"Eberl asked me to talk to [Guardiola] as I am close friends with Pep," Rummenigge said. "I told Pep I needed an authentic and honest analysis. We then were talking on the phone for almost two hours. To make a long story short, he said that he was 100% convinced that Vincent Kompany would be the absolutely perfect coach for Bayern."

Kompany already showed that he could be a competent possession coach during his time as Anderlecht's manager and his first year at Burnley. However, coaching Bayern poses a different set of challenges, and yet, he didn't hesitate to let his team play an overly aggressive style with a high back line from the start.

Bayern only made three major signings during the summer: Michael Olise, Hiroki Ito and João Palhinha. Other than these three and Josip Stanisic, who returned from a loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen, this is the same team that crumbled during the second half of 2023-24.

Sources suggest that Kompany is quite deliberate in how he coaches and teaches his players individually. He approaches with very specific advice in relation to their position and tactical role in his system. Positioning in build-up or the direction and timing of runs into the final third are only a few of the things that are addressed by Kompany and his assistants, who seem to work very hard to analyse all the little details to refine Bayern's tactical system. During the November international break, Kompany once again decided to let his players who had not been selected by their respective national teams train individually instead of in a group setting.

Two who have benefited from Kompany's different approach in terms of communication and coaching are centre-backs Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-Jae. Often the focal point of criticism last season, both have stepped up their game significantly. Their manager's pedigree as a former world-class centre-back certainly provides an advantage.

For Upamecano and Kim, missteps are treated as opportunities rather than failures, a marked departure from the approach of Kompany's predecessor. The transformation in both players over just a few months speaks volumes, with their newfound confidence on the pitch a testament to the manager's nuanced understanding of player development and man-management.

Managing the spring schedule and beyond

The first five months of the Kompany era established a trend in which Bayern have not fared well in games against the strongest opposition, both domestically and abroad. In order to turn that around in the second half of the season, Kompany has to make his team's attacking structure more flexible.

In the closing months of 2024, Bayern often attempted the same sequence of plays -- involving Kimmich as anchor in the middle, Alphonso Davies in the left half-space and Kingsley Coman as the winger on the left side -- over and over again. In general, Bayern still tend to move the ball toward the touchlines frequently, which makes them too predictable against highly competent defences.

As such, there is still much to be done before Bayern can be the force of a couple of years ago. Kompany can only hope that nothing disrupts his work in any meaningful way.

He might not appreciate it when Uli Hoeness, Bayern's former president, suggests the club will enjoy an easy campaign, saying, "We can lean back again after a long time. Other clubs have worries." That statement was countered by Eberl, who stressed that every opponent "can be dangerous to us." Eberl was proven right when Bayern lost their first league game of the season in mid-December against Mainz.

Besides the potential noise coming out of the board rooms, there is also the uncertain future of a few key players that could create tension. Bayern hope to agree fresh contracts with Davies, Kimmich and Jamal Musiala. While negotiations with Davies have been received positively by the club's higher-ups, talks with both Kimmich and Musiala are seemingly more difficult, yet the Bavarians remain optimistic that both will eventually sign new deals.

The expectation is that Musiala sees himself playing for Bayern for many years to come. Once a new contract is finalised, he will very likely become the highest earner alongside Harry Kane, cementing the notion that the 21-year-old is the player Bayern intend to build their future team around.

Like Davies', Kimmich's contract expires at the end of the season. Bayern were ready to cut ties last summer but kept Kimmich because he refused to agree a transfer elsewhere. The club have changed their stance and would be willing to extend Kimmich's terms, and a final decision ought to be made very soon. Kompany himself has emphasised that he hopes Kimmich will extend his stay at the club.

"Joshua has played every minute thus far, so the answer is easy. He has shown in every game that he is important to us," Kompany said when asked about the negotiations between Bayern and Kimmich.

The situation of Goretzka, though, could prove to be instructive. The 29-year-old, whose first start this season didn't come until Nov. 9, has told the club that he intends to remain beyond January despite interest from various clubs.

Even more difficult could become the topic of Leroy Sané's future. The winger never fulfilled the expectations that arose when he moved from Manchester City in 2020. Since his contract expires at the end of the season, the Germany international's departure appears to be the most likely outcome. It would free up a spot on the wings for Athletic Club's Nico Williams or Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, who are both on Bayern's list of potential transfer targets for next summer.

However, parting ways with a few prominent players and remaining unsure about the future of veteran players, most notably Kimmich and Thomas Müller, who may or may not retire come June, could be challenging to Kompany in a completely different way. He has so far reacted to questions about players and personnel decisions like an experienced diplomat, yet if some respected players become disgruntled about their situations, it will be much more difficult to keep the ship steady.

Despite his limited managerial experience, Kompany has been part of the football scene for decades. He knows all too well how fragile harmony and momentum are in this sport. So far, he's struck the right balance to achieve both.

- Constantin Eckner

RALF RANGNICK REJECTS BAYERN MÜNCHEN AS FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED BOSS LEAVES GERMAN GIANTS IN LIMBO

Bayern chief Max Eberl outlines plan to announce new coach as the Austria manager releases a statement

 

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The favourite to take over as Bayern Munich’s next manager, Ralf Rangnick, has turned down the German giants.

Former Manchester United boss Rangnick has committed his future to the Austria national team despite being said to have held lengthy talks to succeed Thomas Tuchel at Allianz Arena.

According to Bild, the 65-year-old’s decision leaves Bayern in limbo over who will step into their dugout next season.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane are among the bookmakers’ alternative frontrunners alongside Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and a potential return for Hansi Flick.

Rangnick released a statement on Thursday morning to explain his decision.

“I'm the Austrian team coach with all my heart,” he said. “I really enjoy this task and am determined to successfully continue on our chosen path.

“I would like to expressly emphasise that this is not a rejection of Bayern, but rather a decision for my team and our common goals. Our full concentration is on the Euros. We will do everything we can to get as far as possible.”

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl clarified this week that no announcement is imminent over the appointment.

“No announcement for next season can take place before the return match against Real Madrid,” he stated.

LIVERPOOL,BARCA AND BAYERN COACH EXISTS SET UP A BUSY SUMMER

When Jurgen Klopp steps down from Liverpool this summer, along with the coaches at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, it may start a ripple of manager moves across Europe. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

 Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, three of the biggest clubs in the world, have a few things in common. They are perennial contenders to win their domestic leagues, they've all won the Champions League over the past decade, and, oh yeah, as of this summer, all three of them need to hire a new coach.

If global football were consolidated into a single pyramid, these three clubs would be at the top -- all of the best players and the best managers flow into these powerhouses. As such, these job openings have the potential to leave a ripple that will be felt throughout Europe and the world.

It started in January with Jurgen Klopp's shocking announcement that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season, ending one of the most successful tenures in Premier League history. Klopp oversaw a turnaround that led Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years, a Champions League title, and plenty of other trophies -- but he said he was "running out of energy" for the job.

A day later, Xavi Hernandez announced he would step down from Barcelona following a loss that saw Barca concede five goals at home for the first time since 1963. Xavi led Barca to a LaLiga title last season, but this campaign has been rocky. "I don't want to be a problem for the club -- I want to be a solution," he said.

Last month, Thomas Tuchel made a similar announcement, vowing to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season. For Bayern, a club that spends far more money on players than any other in the Bundesliga (and most clubs in Europe), sitting second behind the Xabi Alonso-led Bayer Leverkusen on the league table was untenable.

With that, three of the most prestigious manager jobs in the world will soon be open and, as a result, the biggest moves of the summer transfer window might revolve around managers, not players.

As these three clubs comb through candidates and start making job offers, there will be crossover and jostling for pole position -- the best candidates will be under consideration by all three. Then, as coaches leave their current jobs to fill the vacancies at Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern, they will leave more vacancies behind, setting off a chain reaction felt throughout the offseason.

And yet, the reality is that not every coach is a good fit for every job. These clubs in three different leagues have their own unique challenges and their own particular requirements. Sure, they can all hire a big-name coach, but they need to hire the right coach to fit their needs. The style of play and identity at Liverpool aren't the same as at Barca, which differ from Bayern.

So, that leaves us with some big questions to answer. Who are Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern seriously considering as candidates? Who should these clubs hire based on their individual needs? What sort of ripple effect will impact clubs throughout Europe as a result? And what about Pep Guardiola -- he's hinted he'll leave Manchester City sooner rather than later, so how could he fit into all of this?

With reporting and analysis from Mark Ogden, Ryan O'Hanlon, James Olley, Julien Laurens and Rob Dawson, here's everything we know so far.

Behind the scenes of the coach searches at Liverpool, Barca and Bayern

The search is on, and there are some names that have already been attached to all three openings.

Two names -- Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi -- are a common thread. Bayern's honorary president, Uli Hoeness, said last week that his club, Liverpool and Real Madrid, who only recently gave coach Carlo Ancelotti a new contract, have all been attempting to hire Alonso, who is on course to guide Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title this season.

With Alonso having spent five years with Real Madrid during his playing career, he is not considered a realistic contender for the job at rival Barcelona, but Brighton coach De Zerbi is under consideration at Camp Nou and is also on the radars of Liverpool and Bayern.

And just to further connect the dots, multiple sources have told ESPN that Tuchel has been discussed as a candidate at the highest level at Barcelona, who need to replace Xavi.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been looking for a new coach since November, when Klopp told the club's owner, Fenway Sports Group, that he would be leaving Anfield in the summer. Klopp revealed his intentions publicly at the end of January.

Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan said publicly that their recruitment process for Klopp's successor will be "data-led," opening up the prospect of an unexpected appointment at Anfield. The return to the club of former sporting director Michael Edwards earlier this month underscored Liverpool's determination to stick to the tried and trusted methods that helped identify Klopp in 2015 (and also a stream of successful players signings since, too).

Alonso, a Champions League winner as a player with Liverpool, is the romantic choice, and the 42-year-old is indeed a serious contender if he is keen to replace Klopp, but De Zerbi and Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim are also on Liverpool's radar.

And don't rule out VfB Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness as a surprise option for Liverpool following his impressive work at the Bundesliga team. He is also under consideration at Bayern, but Alonso remains the strong front-runner for the job in Munich. While Uli Hoeness -- Sebastian Hoeness' uncle -- is no longer a serious power broker at Bayern, he remains a well-connected figure at the club, so his recent comments about Bayern Munich and Liverpool working on hiring Alonso will have been delivered for a reason.

Perhaps Bayern are concerned that Liverpool have the edge on them for Alonso, or maybe they are trying to force Alonso into a decision either way. Bayern aren't accustomed to finishing second, on or off the pitch, so their bullish position on Alonso may not be as confident as it seems.

Max Eberl's appointment as Bayern sporting director in February means the former Borussia Monchengladbach and RB Leipzig executive will lead the search for a new coach -- but all the focus is on former Bayern midfielder Alonso right now. Where Alonso ends up will clearly have a domino effect on what happens everywhere else.

Barcelona are in a state of flux due to the financial issues at the club and the ongoing wait for a return to Camp Nou following the stadium's £1.3 billion renovation. Xavi has struggled to blend the club's old players with emerging youngsters, and a squad rebuild is needed to put the team back on a competitive level with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

But Barcelona remains one of the game's most historic clubs, and the appeal of managing the team will still attract the best coaches. Barcelona is still Barcelona.

Former coach Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Klopp are the dream options within the Barcelona hierarchy, but neither are remotely possible, so there are competing factions attempting to crown different contenders. De Zerbi and Tuchel have been considered, while former Bayern and Germany coach Hansi Flick is another name in discussions.

Mikel Arteta is regarded as the best option within Barcelona, but the Arsenal coach rejected speculation in January linking him with the club where he started his playing career.

In their present state, Barcelona are having to try harder to nail down their preferred candidate, but Arteta remains a favoured option on the basis that, if he is offered the job, he could find it impossible to turn down. -- Mark Ogden

The best coaching fits for each club, according to the data

Liverpool: Thomas Frank

When Klopp announced he'd be leaving Liverpool back in January, I identified ... drumroll, please ... Brentford's Thomas Frank as a potential successor. Thomas Frank? As in, the guy whose team has lost seven of nine league matches since you wrote that article? Yes, that one.

The point is that Liverpool are weird among other top teams because their games feature lots of turnovers and lots of vertical passing. Most managers at top clubs have moved toward a much more measured, almost deliberate style in possession.

Here's how every team in Europe this season compares by how aggressively they press -- passes allowed per defensive action -- and how quickly they move the ball upfield in meters per second:

The three highlighted teams are Liverpool, the team coached by Liverpool's presumptive first option, Alonso, and the team coached by Thomas Frank. In terms of style, Brentford are more like Liverpool than Leverkusen -- and even with the terrible few months of results, they're still outperforming their resources by an even greater degree than Leverkusen are this season. And after all, the main objective of a manager is to make a team's talent perform at a higher level.

Hiring Frank would be a big risk for Liverpool, but so would hiring Alonso -- or just about anyone other than a clone of Klopp.

Barcelona: Xabi Alonso

The irony in all of this is that Alonso seems like he'd be a way better fit at Barcelona than any of the teams he's played for -- either Liverpool and Bayern Munich, who have openings this summer, or Real Madrid at some point in the future.

If we're going to define the Barcelona identity, then I think it would just be: using the ball. Using the ball to stay in possession so you don't have to defend, using the ball rather than pressing or transition opportunities or crosses to create chances at the other end. And, well, Bayer Leverkusen use the ball better than just about anyone else in Europe.

Here's how they compare to the rest of Europe in how far they pass the ball per pass and what percentage of their final-third passes are crosses:

Yep, that's them, all the way in the bottom left corner.

Alonso is so clearly an effective coach. There's no way that Bayer Leverkusen's players are just naturally playing in such an extreme fashion -- he's managed them into this approach. And it's obviously working: they haven't lost a game yet this season.

At the same time, if you're hiring him, you're either going to be asking him to overhaul your playing style or you're going to be asking him to adapt to your players -- both of which entail a good deal of uncertainty. However, the potential reward -- just look at the Bundesliga table -- seems worth it.

If Alonso, who played six seasons at Real Madrid, is not willing to cross the Clasico divide to coach at the Camp Nou, Brighton's De Zerbi looks like another snug stylistic fit -- but Barca should try to convince Alonso.

Bayern Munich: Sebastian Hoeness

In one sense, Bayern Munich have essentially been the same exact team under Julian Nagelsmann and Tuchel. They're scoring 2.7 non-penalty goals per game and allowing 1.0 non-penalty goals per game under Tuchel -- both the same numbers as the Nagelsmann era.

But in another sense, they've been the exact opposite. Under Tuchel, they've averaged 89.3 possessions per game. Under Nagelsmann, that number was all the way up at 102. Under Tuchel, their opponents have completed 79.3% of their passes. Under Nagelsmann: 74.4%. With Tuchel, it's total control. With Nagelsmann, it's complete chaos.

For that reason, if Nagelsmann were to leave Germany, he seems like a close-to-perfect stylistic fit for Liverpool. (Culturally? I'm not so sure.) The much more open playing style also just seems like it's a better fit for Bayern, a club that's seemingly always prided itself on being bigger, faster, and stronger than everybody else.

The ideal replacement would be Klopp, but that's not happening -- Klopp has made it clear he wants a break from coaching, not a break from Liverpool. Instead, Stuttgart's Hoeness seems to fit the bill. Stuttgart are vastly overperforming what they spend on their payroll, their matches feature an above-average number of possessions, and only seven teams in Europe have held their opponents to a lower pass-completion percentage. Plus, the club's honorary president, Uli, is his uncle. -- Ryan O'Hanlon

The other European clubs that could make changes -- and cause further ripples

The clouds are darkening over several managers around Europe's top leagues, with Mauricio Pochettino trying to navigate one of the most mutinous environments at Chelsea. A sizable number of supporters sang "you don't know what you're doing" at the Blues' boss during their 4-2 FA Cup quarterfinal win over Leicester City earlier this month, coming after chants for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as they laboured to a draw at Brentford.

Sources have told ESPN that there remains sympathy from within the club towards Pochettino, as internal data suggests performances have not got the results they deserve -- but the external pressure is building. Reaching Wembley twice this season -- they return to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals next month after losing the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool at the end of February -- is a notable achievement, but it cannot entirely mask a dismal Premier League campaign given they currently sit in 11th place.

Winning the FA Cup would yield a valuable place in next season's Europa League, but if fan dissent continues to grow, Chelsea's owners may feel compelled to make a change. The complication there would be with the club's Financial Fair Play compliance, which would be tested further by paying off another manager and his staff.

Mourinho's availability casts a shadow over Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who has found it difficult to sustain the rate of progress that delivered Champions League football to St James' Park for the first time in 20 years. They finished bottom of the group and sit 10th in the Premier League, facing a scramble to qualify for any European competition.

Despite Howe's good work, the club may look to replace him with a manager possessing a higher profile with a track record of competing at the top end of the game, even if there is sympathy for a lengthy and prolonged injury list that has undermined their season.

Manchester United's new part-owners, Ineos, are considering possible replacements for Erik ten Hag and ESPN reported recently that Gareth Southgate is a credible candidate, should his eight-year tenure as England boss come to an end this summer. On Tuesday, ESPN learned that Man United were interested in speaking with Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil.

Ten Hag is fighting to prove his worth, and a winnable FA Cup semifinal against Coventry City plus the probability of fifth place in the Premier League being good enough for Champions League qualification gives him two lifelines to cling to. But United's inconsistency in performances coupled with steady transfer market profligacy have left him vulnerable to the new ownership, who are intent on restoring the club to former glories. In order to achieve that, they may want to stamp their authority by making a change regardless of what Ten Hag delivers in the next two months.

Massimiliano Allegri has a year left on his Juventus contract, but speculation persists that he could leave the club. Juventus are currently 17 points behind runaway Serie A leaders Inter Milan, though Juve remain on course for Champions League qualification and have a two-legged Coppa Italia semifinal against Lazio to come next month. Allegri continues to divide opinion in Turin and any end-of-season downturn could seal his fate.

Edin Terzic is walking a similar tightrope at Borussia Dortmund, given they are 20 points adrift of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. If one side is traditionally expected to take advantage of a rare flawed Bayern Munich campaign, it would be Dortmund but they are clinging on to a Champions League qualification spot at present. However, they have reached the quarter-finals of this season's competition, where they will face Atletico Madrid, and so a positive end to the campaign is within Terzic's reach. -- James Olley

Which managers are on everyone's wish list this summer?

Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim has plenty of admirers. Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

This summer will be a very busy one for many managers: the ones who are hoping to get back on a bench, the ones who will be heavily wooed, the ones who have already announced that they are leaving at the end of the season, and the ones who will hope a bigger club will come for them.

Many clubs and sporting directors in Europe are receiving applications from managers or from their agents every day already and, more than ever before, the manager market this summer will be a massive game of musical chairs.

The most coveted names

Imagine having not yet finished your first full season as a first-team manager and already being wanted by Liverpool and Bayern Munich. This is Xabi Alonso's situation. The Leverkusen coach is having a wonderful campaign with attacking football and tactical excellence. His 3-4-2-1 formation sometimes yields mixed results, but his team's football has been superb as his players execute with a genuine sense of purpose and confidence.

It's a similar picture for Thiago Motta, 41, at Bologna, who will surely leave for bigger and better things after a brilliant season in which his team are on course for a top-four Serie A finish. Ruben Amorim, even younger at 39, has been linked with many jobs since taking Sporting CP to a league title in 2021, with his 3-4-3 formation and a very intense style. Roberto De Zerbi, 44, is perhaps a more established choice and his passing, attacking approach has been great to see at Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk and Brighton.

Finally, Thomas Tuchel, 50, is leaving Bayern Munich in June after an underwhelming time, but his stock is still high after his great run at Chelsea, which included a Champions League title, and his stint at Paris Saint-Germain, which included two Ligue 1 titles and a Champions League final. Tactically, he is one of the best out there.

The next wave of candidates

Zinedine Zidane has not been in a job for some time. Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Is this summer the right one for Zinedine Zidane to take on a new challenge? The 51-year-old wants the France job, but if it doesn't become available, some clubs will come for him again, attracted by his amazing man-management skills that helped Real Madrid win two LaLiga titles and four Champions League crowns during his tenure.

Julian Nagelsmann, 36, will also be free after the Euros with Germany. A brilliant tactician and one of the youngest coaches to emerge in the world game, his underwhelming spell at Bayern hasn't hurt his reputation.

Like Tuchel did at Bayern, Xavi is also on the market after announcing he will leave Barcelona. At 44, he showed great resilience in adversity there and developed young players well, but the manager of the season in LaLiga is without a doubt Míchel, 48, at Girona. His ideas about pace, verticality, intensity and direct play have been implemented perfectly by his team, who were one of LaLiga's best sides over much of the season prior to a late swoon that's dropped them out of the title race.

The same can be said for Franck Haise, 52, at Lens. His high-press approach and 3-4-3 formation that gives his players freedom to find space have made him really attractive to big clubs. Finally, Julen Lopetegui, 57, has a lot of top-level experience and his ability to build teams makes him a good option.

A fading star and the old guard

Graham Potter, 48, should be considered a viable option for a top club, but the reputation of the former Brighton manager was seriously damaged by his awful time at Chelsea. He still has a nice brand of football and good man-management skills to offer, but in what kind of environment?

As for the old guard, what's next really? Who will still believe in José Mourinho, 61, after seeing him get sacked from his last five jobs? Which owner wants to deal with Antonio Conte, 54, given his temperamental behavior and constant demands for more resources at every club? Is 59-year-old Hansi Flick, the former Germany head coach, still considered a serious contender for a top job or even an average one? It feels like there is not a market for Jorge Sampaoli, 64, anymore in Europe. For some of them, rebooting away from the spotlight in the lucrative Saudi Pro League might be the best option. For some of them, rebooting away from the spotlight in the lucrative Saudi Pro League might be the best option.

The wild cards

Will Still is younger than most players but is making waves in France. Photo by ANP via Getty Images

All four of these managers have impressed in patches over the past couple of seasons and could be worth watching during this coaching shuffle.

Vincenzo Italiano, 46, has Fiorentina playing the best attacking football in Serie A.

Will Still, only 31, has been a revelation with Reims in Ligue 1 the past two seasons with intensity, pressing and vertical play. Arne Slot, 45, has a similar style at Feyenoord, yielding great results domestically (second in the Eredivisie) and in Europe (third in their Champions League group) with his team.

Meanwhile, Alexander Blessin, 50, has taken Union St-Gilloise to another level this season with a very aggressive brand of football.

The ones left behind

There's likely not much interest in this group this summer given some tough recent results. Wayne Rooney, 38, was terrible at Birmingham earlier this season and was sacked after barely two months, having left Major League Soccer late last year. Laurent Blanc, 58, was also let go by Lyon after a very disappointing spell there, though it was even worse for Rudi Garcia, 60, at Napoli (sacked in November) this season.

American coach Jesse Marsch, 50, is still looking for his next opportunity since leaving Leeds in February 2023. -- Julien Laurens

What about Pep Guardiola? Is there a chance he decides to leave Man City?

The big unknown in the managerial merry-go-round is Pep Guardiola's future. Specifically: how does the Manchester City manager envision leaving the Etihad Stadium?

What is certain is that Guardiola, now into his eighth season at the club, is into his endgame. He's already said he never planned to stay at Man City so long, and it raises the possibility that he could announce his departure quite suddenly. It was telling that after winning the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia in December, he walked into his postmatch news conference and said he felt he had "closed a chapter." For those in the room, it felt like a resignation speech without the resignation.

There's an argument that if City were to win another treble this season -- and they are favourites to do just that -- then Guardiola would have nothing left to achieve at club level. Stalwart Bernardo Silva could leave in the summer and star striker Erling Haaland isn't planning to stick around forever; does Guardiola, now 53, really want to start another cycle during which anything other than complete success might be badged as something of a failure? Probably not.

The fly in the ointment is City's legal battle amid accusations of financial wrongdoing made by the Premier League. The case is expected to move forward in September or October and Guardiola has publicly pledged to see the club through whatever punishment -- if any -- comes their way. He has a contract until 2025 so there's no need to walk away before the process is complete as long as the timeline for a decision remains the same.

Could Guardiola's final act as City manager be to somehow guide them to Champions League qualification after being hit with a mammoth points deduction? It's not beyond the realms of possibility.

The other thing to consider is what Guardiola has in mind for his future. Jurgen Klopp has suggested he might never manage again, but Guardiola has other ambitions. He wants to manage a national team at a major tournament -- preferably a World Cup -- and if he decided to leave City this summer, he could take over as a national team boss in August or September and have a two-year build-up to the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

As a proud Catalan, it's unlikely he would ever take the Spain job, but England, Brazil or the United States are all possibilities. The English Football Association will be looking for a new manager in the summer if Gareth Southgate decides his time is up after the Euros and they would jump at the chance to appoint Guardiola.

For their part, City will leave it up to Guardiola to decide how he wants to finish at the club. Their forward planning in terms of squad development has been phenomenal and bosses -- particularly director of football, Txiki Begiristain -- will already have a shortlist in mind if Guardiola drops a bombshell at the end of the season. The Man City job would be an attractive proposition for almost any manager in the world. -- Rob Dawson

- ESPN

HARRY KANE STEERS BAYERN MUNICH INTO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS WITH TWO GOALS IN 3-0 WIN OVER LAZIO

DPA via AP

 MUNICH (AP) — He’s done it again.

Harry Kane scored twice to steer Bayern Munich into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Lazio on Tuesday.

Kane’s 32nd and 33rd goals this season for Bayern ensured the Bavarian powerhouse recovered from losing the first leg of the last 16 tie 1-0 in Rome to win 3-1 on aggregate over two legs.

“A perfect night for us,” said Kane, the man of the match.

The win will ease the pressure on Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, whose premature departure at the end of the season was announced by Bayern after the team's three-game losing run — including the defeat in Rome.

Bayern's new sporting director Max Eberl said before Tuesday's game that Tuchel would remain in charge afterward even if the team lost, but there had been a feeling defeat would bring forward the coach's exit.

Bayern, which is 10 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, was facing the prospect of just its second elimination in 12 appearances at this stage of the Champions League.

“If we had been eliminated today, it would have been more than unfortunate,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer said.

Kane broke the deadlock in the 38th minute after Ciro Immobile had gone close for Lazio at the other end.

Thomas Müller headed Aleksandar Pavlović’s cross back for Raphaël Guerreiro to mis-hit it, and Kane threw himself at the ball to just head it past Ivan Provedel in the Lazio goal.

There was still time before the break for Müller to score in first-half stoppage time with a glancing header to Matthijs de Ligt’s shot after a corner.

Kane sealed the result in the 66th by firing in the rebound after Leroy Sané drew a save from Provedel. It was the England captain’s sixth Champions League goal this season.