As of: March 1, 2024, 11:32 a.m
By: Philipp Kessler
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Christian Nerlinger knows Max Eberl and he knows FC Bayern.
The former Munich sports director and current player agent trusts his long-time companion to take on the job as sports director.
Munich – Christian Nerlinger (50) has known Max Eberl (50) for ages.
They caused a sensation as young talents at FC Bayern.
Years later their paths crossed as Bundesliga managers and the two then sat on opposite sides of the negotiating table.
In the big
tz
interview, former Bayern sports director and current player agent (CN Sports) Nerlinger explains what makes his companion tick and what challenges await Eberl as the record champions' new sports director.
Nerlinger: Eberl was “very professional and very reflective” even as a player
Mr. Nerlinger, what memories do you have of your time together with Eberl in the FC Bayern youth team?
I would say that the two of us were very ambitious and focused as teenagers.
I was sixth or eighth.
And Max always marched on the right side.
Markus Babbel was also in our team.
In 1989 we won the final of the B-Junior Championship against Hertha Zehlendorf on penalties.
The first ever youth title for FC Bayern.
We really had a great group.
We were all boys from Munich and the surrounding area.
Now there is scouting across Europe and the world, which I see very critically in the youth sector.
Was it already clear to you back then that Eberl would also have a managerial career ahead of him?
After winning the U17 final, Markus Babbel said his dream was to play in the Bayernliga.
This shows that we were all a little more modest and humble.
Max was someone who always pushed his limits as a player.
He was already very professional and very reflective back then.
He still is today.
Max Eber is the new sports director of FC Bayern Munich.
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Nerlinger sure: FC Bayern are well-staffed with Eberl and Freund
On Friday, Eberl officially had his first day at work as FC Bayern's sports director. Do you trust him to take on the new task?
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Tel?
Tuchel reacts thinly to reading Eberl's statement
Yes, definitely.
I believe that Max has arrived where he belongs.
He has made a great journey on the official side.
He gained early experience in the youth sector, then he became the strong man at Gladbach.
He left a long-term mark on the club.
After a break came his short interlude in Leipzig, where it quickly became apparent that unfortunately it wasn't right.
With Christoph Freund as sports director and Max as sports director, FC Bayern is absolutely top-class.
This is a very strong combination in terms of quality and humanity.
I am sure that FC Bayern will have very successful times with these two.
You were sports director at FC Bayern from 2009 to 2012. Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have been wanting to withdraw more and more from operational business for a few years. Now both are on the supervisory board. How can Eberl find his place among the alphas in the club?
This transition already began in my time.
Of course, such a process can take time until a long-term, stable solution is found again.
I believe that the Supervisory Board has gained experience in recent years and is very interested in ensuring continuity and stability and maintaining communication and cooperation.
Max is a very experienced manager.
He knows that there is no other club in Germany that is as focused on success as FC Bayern.
There are also strong personalities who dominate.
With the experience gained from his many years of work plus his history at FC Bayern, he can very well assess how he needs to proceed.
I am 100 percent sure that he has a clear and structured plan.
That's how I got to know him on the other side.
The former sports director of FC Bayern Munich, Christian Nerlinger.
© Tobias Hase/German Press Agency GmbH/dpa
“Max is very clear, very structured, open and transparent.
He is also very close to the team.
That’s also the feedback from the players.”
Christian Nerlinger
You have had a consulting agency for years. You also know Eberl as a Gladbach manager through your client Florian Neuhaus. How is he as a negotiator?
During the phase in which Flo Neuhaus became a national player and Gladbach played in the Champions League, he was the club's dominant player personality and still is today.
Max clearly expressed this appreciation in the contract negotiations at the time and showed that he was ready to pull out all the stops to extend the contract.
He fought.
This was very well received by me and the player.
Max is equipped with competence and experience.
He is also a tough negotiator and always acted in the interests of the club.
But he already knew back then that sometimes you had to be brave in order to ensure the club's sporting success.
Max is very clear, very structured, open and transparent.
He is also very close to the team.
This is also the feedback from the players.
At FC Bayern, Eberl and Freund want to take their time with contract extensions for Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sané and Co. Can you understand this relaxed attitude?
In the 2015/16 season there was a contract offensive at FC Bayern.
I looked after Jérôme Boateng at the time.
At that time, important pillars such as Neuer, Müller, Alaba and him were extended very early.
It was made very clear that they wanted to keep the players long-term and the club managed to do that.
But that always requires two sides.
I am currently an outsider.
When you hear the statements about current contract extensions, it seems as if a major upheaval could happen in the summer, with deserving players being given away.
Nerlinger: The coaching question is the most necessary one for Eberl
Eberl also has to find a successor for coach Thomas Tuchel.
I believe that the coaching question is the most necessary.
A coach must always be fully involved in squad planning, and Max will involve the new coach in this.
I also think there will be a new transfer philosophy.
In recent years there have been many issues at FC Bayern on the last transfer day that have seemed surprising and incredibly costly.
With Max and Christoph Freund, this will certainly be better prepared and a sustainable plan will be drawn up: How do we build the team?
Who are our leaders?
How do we structure the academy and the transition from the youth department to the professionals?
Which players does Eberl need to strengthen now in order to make this so far mixed season a successful one?
I can't judge that from a distance.
To do this you would have to know the characters and their inner life exactly.
But Max will definitely strengthen players, he was always close to the team during his managerial positions.
He will certainly develop a hierarchy and structure.
Interview: Philipp Kessler