Bayern Munich's managerial mess: Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann rejections mean German giants are running out of options to replace Thomas Tuchel

Nagelsmann made sense as an appointment when he was brought in to replace Hansi Flick in July 2021. The young, trendy, skateboard-riding German had worked wonders with the Red Bull setup, and Bayern showed little hesitation in shelling out a world record €25 million (£22m/$30m) to bring the coach to Munich.

In 2021-22, he hit the bare minimum, winning the Bundesliga with three games to spare. And although cup glory proved elusive - Nagelsmann's former side Leipzig claimed the trophy - he could have few qualms about their domestic performances. In Europe, things were less impressive, with the Bavarians knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage. Still, zoom out and there is little shame in losing to Unai Emery's devastating Villarreal side - who made a surprise semi-final run.

The year after, though, the problems really started. Robert Lewandowski left for Barcelona, and was never entirely replaced. The signing of a declining Sadio Mane didn't work, and problems at board level cultivated a toxic environment around the club. It didn't help, either, that Bayern had fallen behind a surging Dortmund in the title race. Whether Nagelsmann was shrewd in his outspokenness is up for debate, but it certainly seemed harsh that the board reportedly sacked the manager without warning.

Tuchel's availability served as some justification for what had happened to Nagelsmann. Another head coach harshly dismissed, it made sense to swap a manager still trying to carve out a reputation at the very highest level for one who was unquestionably elite.

Tuchel met his remit across those first few months of his appointment, overturning a deficit to win the German top flight, and secure an 11th straight title. In the Champions League, Bayern were battered by City, but who could blame them? Pep Guardiola's treble winners were by some distance the best side in Europe.

This season was supposed to signal change. Tuchel, with a summer to work, and Harry Kane to deploy up front, figured to have his side worked out in full. The Bavarians were supposed to be a dominant force, and legitimate Champions League competitors once again.

Things haven't panned out. Kane may have been banging in the goals at a frightening rate, but there are issues all over the pitch, and behind the scenes. Bayern's performances have been underwhelming, while a mixture of injuries and individual errors have seen them fall out of cup competitions, and let the league slip to Alonso's dominant Leverkusen side. Tuchel, of course, is set to leave at the end of the season, while a number of key players, including Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, face uncertain futures. The change simply hasn't panned out as expected.

But that doesn't mean the fans aren't happy. Earlier this week, an online petition circulated asking for Tuchel to stay in the job. As of Friday evening, it had over 15,000 signatures.

Bayern weren't the only club that thought they might be able to secure the services of Alonso. It was widely assumed that the Bundesliga-winning manager would bolt for a major European club after coaching Leverkusen to a title this season. Such a move would make sense. Alonso is a manager ready for a big job. Give the former Spain midfielder a hefty budget, brand recognition, and a rowdy fanbase, and there is, in theory, no limit to what he might achieve. Add in that he enjoyed some of his best years as a footballer at Bayern, and it made a lot of sense that he might be the head coach in Bavaria before too long.

It hasn't turned out that way, of course. Alonso, surprisingly, has elected to stay for at least one more year, eager to take his invincible side on a Champions League run - or at least stand a chance at defending the title. It left three clubs scrambling for a solution, with Bayern, Liverpool and Real Madrid all forced to pivot their plans.

But it is in Germany where the impact was felt the most. Liverpool, it seemed, had cornered the market for the other big names, in the running for the likes of Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi. And although they seem to be on the brink of hiring Feyenoord boss Arne Slot, Bayern haven't been linked with those the English club passed on. It wasn't Alonso or bust at Bayern, but it was certainly close.

Outside of Alonso, the options are admittedly thin. Nagelsmann was reportedly a top target, the now-Germany boss linked with the most ironic of returns after Euro 2024. He wasted little time avoiding a homecoming, however, penning a new deal to stay in charge of the national team until 2026 - thus ruling himself out of the running.

It has left the Bavarians scrambling for options. De Zerbi, Amorim and even Hansi Flick have been linked and swiftly discarded. Rumours of a Jurgen Klopp arrival disappeared as quickly as they materialised. Zinedine Zidane, too, was briefly mentioned. The idea of Unai Emery was floated, but he penned a new deal to stay with Aston Villa.

In what should have been a rich managerial market, the Bavarians are scraping the bottom of the barrel. Still, football director Max Eberl seemed to suggest that a new appointment could be sorted soon.

"I know that time is of the essence," Eberl told Sky Germany. "We want to do it quickly, but we still want to do it as carefully and thoroughly as necessary, and that's the job that Christoph [Freund] and I are doing. But as I said, we are now very, very close and hopefully we will be able to announce something soon."

The man at the front of the queue now appears to be Ralf Rangnick, who is reportedly nearing an agreement to take the job. It seems an odd appointment to those of a Premier League persuasion. Rangnick oversaw some dark days at Manchester United, appointed on an interim basis after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was relieved of his duties midway through the chaotic 2021-22 season. He spent most of his time in northern England dropping points and criticising the United setup - before departing in unspectacular circumstances. It all made for enthralling viewing, months of equally absurd and thrilling moments.

But in Germany, Rangnick has a far more positive reputation. The now-Austria manager is credited with building the Red Bull setup that has made an impact globally with their attacking football and high-intensity setups. What he perhaps lacks in personality, he makes up for with tactical intelligence. His managerial record of late has been encouraging, too, the German overseeing an impressive Austria side that could make some noise at Euro 2024.

The downside is, of course, that Rangnick has national team duties to focus on - which will occupy him for at least the start of the summer transfer window. Still, if this is a third - or even fourth - choice appointment, Bayern could do far worse.

If he's appointed, questions remain as to how long Rangnick might stay at the club. It has been suggested that Bayern are looking for an interim appointment, someone to oversee for one year before making a run at Alonso in 2025 - or perhaps even tempting Klopp after he takes his promised sabbatical.

And that would make sense. Rangnick has made a career off smart stints in advisory roles, and isn't necessarily known for his ability to energise an entire fanbase and oversee a club side. Having him in place for a year, steadying the ship and setting them up for the future, could be a shrewd option - especially if Bayern receive positive indications that Alonso could be available.

Perhaps more importantly, it could give a broken club the chance to reset. Bayern have spiralled for almost two years now, and it would ask a lot of a new manager - especially a fourth-choice option - to turn things around alone.

It's all a bit of a mess in Munich and it's about time the repair process began.