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Bayern Munich OUT Manuel Neuer’s goalkeeping coach, and best man at his wedding, ‘after boss Julian Nagelsmann discovered he LEAKED internal chats to players’, with goalkeeper also facing scrutiny
- Bayern Munich said goodbye to goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic
- Tapolovic, a close friend of Manuel Neuer, allegedly leaked information
- The coach is said to have revealed chats between Bayern staff and players.
Bayern Munich reportedly fired goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic, a close confidante of Manuel Neuer, because he was leaking conversations between the coaching staff to the players.
Tapolovic was sacked ‘with immediate effect’ on Monday over ‘differences in the way we work together’, but a report from Germany has now revealed the tensions between him and manager Julian Nagelsmann which led to his dismissal.
The 42-year-old, who was Neuer’s best man, has been at Bayern since 2011 and is credited by many with turning the goalkeeper into one of the best in the world, but his close relationship with the World Cup winner . it is said to have caused ‘leaks’ in the dressing room.
Bayern Munich have reportedly fired goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic after he leaked conversations between staff and players, via his close friend Manuel Neuer.
Tapalovic, who was Neuer’s best man at their wedding in 2017 (right), has been at Bayern for 11 years and was instrumental in their success.
Tensions are said to have risen between Tapalovic (left) and manager Julian Nagelsmann (right) before he was sacked due to “a difference in the way we work”.
Nagelsmann began to grow frustrated with Tapalovic as early as last season after discovering that the coach relayed conversations between staff members to Neuer, and then to the rest of the players, according to picture.
There have been differences between Tapalovic and the club’s hierarchy ‘for a long time’, the report continues, and the club’s statement on his dismissal made no attempt to sidestep the issues between the two parties.
‘As our goalkeeping coach, Toni has been involved in the successes of recent years. We would like to thank him for that,’ Bayern manager Hasan Salihamidzic said.
‘Differences, particularly over the way we work together, have now led us to go our separate ways. We wish Toni Tapalovic all the best for the future.’
He has helped make Neuer one of the best goalkeepers in the world for the past decade.
Neuer paid an emotional tribute to his friend Tapalovic after confirming his departure
Neuer married his wife Nina Weiss in 2017, limping down the aisle on crutches after breaking his metatarsal against Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Tapalovic helped him prepare for the big day.
Neuer wrote a heartfelt message to his close friend after his departure was confirmed this week, hailing him as “an absolute pioneer of modern goalkeeping” and “a great person”, saying he played a huge role in Bayern’s recent success. .
Tapalovic has been with the club through a trophy-packed period that has seen them win ten Bundesliga titles, two Champions League trophies and five German Cups.
‘Dear Toni, today marks the end of an era at FC Bayern Munich. With you after 11.5 years, not only an absolute pioneer of the modern goalkeeping game, but above all a great person leaves the club.
‘Everyone, not just in Munich, knows that all these achievements would never have been possible without you! Last but not least, you shaped me and raised me and my goalkeeping game to a new level. I will miss you!’