Arsene Wenger could be in line to make a remarkable return to football management. The 70-year-old has emerged as a leading contender to take charge of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
The former Arsenal boss is being hotly tipped after Bayern sacked Niko Kovac after a 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Bayern sit fourth in the German domestic league with five wins from 10 games so far this season.
Kovac succeded Jupp Heynckes as Bayern manager in April 2018 with a three-year contract due to last until June 2021.
Last season, Kovac led Bayern to a league and cup double.
On Sunday morning, Kovac led a training session with Bayern's players. Then in the evening, Kovac and the Bayern bosses got together to discuss the situation with the conclusion that it was no longer possible to work together.
“I think that this is the right decision for the club at the moment,” Kovac said in a public statement published by the club. “The results, and also the way we played lately, made me come to that decision.”
“We all regret this development,” Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in the statement. “I would like to thank Niko Kovac on behalf of FC Bayern for his work, especially for winning the double last season.”
“The performance of our team in recent weeks and the results have shown that there was a need for action,” Rummenigge added.
If Wenger, who managed the Gunners for a remarkable 22 seasons, was to take over at Bayern Munich, even on a temporary basis, he'd have an interesting Champions League clash to prepare for this side of Christmas.
Bayern welcome Tottenham to the Allianz Arena in the Champions League on 11 December following their 7-2 hammering of them in London last month.
It's believed that Bayern are willing to appoint Wenger until the end of the current season before they make a long-term appointment.
Ajax's Erik ten Hag and Thoms Tuchel of PSG are believed to be their top targets.
Speaking on beIN Sports this week Wenger expressed his interest in the role but denied that talks have taken place between the two parties.
"Of course, coaching was my whole life until now and everybody who has coached will tell you the same.
"Winning football games, preparing a team fro a game, developing players and getting satisfaction and shared emotions is something that you miss.
"I was nearly going to Bayern a long, long time ago. At the moment, I haven't talked to them at all.
"We have not talked to each other and I don't know [if we will]."
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