Bayern Munich poach RB Salzburg’s Christoph Freund, the man who unearthed Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai as club’s new sporting director
Bayern Munich poach Christoph Freund from RB Salzburg, the man who put Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai up as the club’s new sporting director
- Bayern Munich confirms Christoph Freund as the club’s new sporting director
- Freund comes over from RB Salzburg, where he has fulfilled the same successful role since 2015
- He is responsible for exhuming Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai
Bayern Munich have confirmed the appointment of Christoph Freund as the club’s new sporting director, after succeeding in the same role at RB Salzburg.
Freund will take up his duties on September 1, ending Bayern’s search for a new sporting director after they parted ways with Hasan Salihamidzic last season.
The Austrian has been with Salzburg since 2015 and oversaw the recruitment and development of Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai at the club, as well as names like Naby Keita, Karim Adeyemi and Dayot Upamencano.
“After the talks with the management of FC Bayern, it was clear to me that I wanted to take on this new challenge.” Freund said as he took up the post.
“I am really looking forward to doing everything possible from September 1 with all my energy and passion to ensure that this club continues to be so successful in sporting terms, that it continues to be among the world’s best” , and that it inspires its fans with attractive football.
Christoph Freund will be the new sporting director at Bayern Munich from September
Freund is responsible for digging up players including Erling Haaland (above) and Naby Keita
“I think it’s important for a club to have an identity and that’s what FC Bayern stands for without a doubt.
I am very grateful to Salzburg for 17 successful and emotional years, and I will feel as involved with the club as I know in this transfer window.’
Freund was a target for Chelsea and their role as sporting director last year, but he turned down the chance to work at Stamford Bridge and stayed at RB Salzburg.
He played for Austria Salzburg as a youth player before taking up a position in the club office in 2006. In 2012, Freund served as sporting coordinator before succeeding Ralf Rangnick as sporting director at the start of the 2015–16 season.
While Freund was at RB Salzburg, the club has won the Austrian title ten times in a row
Thomas Tuchel gets help with his Bayern squad with the club’s new sporting director
“We are delighted that we have been able to get such an experienced and successful sporting director for FC Bayern in Christoph Freund.” Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen stated when the appointment was made official.
We are convinced that he is the right person to strengthen the team in the future, together with the coaching team of Thomas Tuchel and technical director Marco Neppe.
It has been mutually agreed with Red Bull Salzburg – where Christoph Freund has done excellent work – that he will fully shape the current transfer period at his old employer and will only start working for us at the beginning of September.’
During Freund’s stay in Austria, RB Salzburg were crowned champions ten times in a row and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2018.