FC Bayern Munich is parting ways with its goalkeeping coach. Toni Tapalovic is surprised by this. Not only his confidant Manuel Neuer mourns him.
Toni Tapalovic did not expect to be fired as goalkeeper coach at FC Bayern Munich. “After more than a decade, my time at Bayern Munich ends surprisingly today,” wrote the 42-year-old on Instagram.
The German record champions released the confidant of national soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on Monday evening with immediate effect. “In particular, differences about the way we work together have now led to us going our separate ways,” said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. The club did not provide any information about a successor.
Tapalovic came to Munich with Neuer in 2011 and has been the coach responsible for the goalkeepers at the Bundesliga leaders ever since. During Neuer’s time at FC Schalke 04, Tapalovic was a goalkeeper there and was even then a mentor for Neuer. “I’ll miss you!” Wrote the 36-year-old in a first reaction on Instagram. With Tapalovic, after 11.5 years, not only is an absolute pioneer of modern goalkeeping leaving the club, but above all a great person. “Last but not least, you also shaped me and my goalkeeping game and raised it to a new level,” said Neuer.
“Absolute success story”
Thomas Müller expressed similar appreciation. “It was also an absolute success story in the last decade because of you,” wrote Bayern offensive player under Tapalovic’s post.
Most recently, goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, on loan from Bayern to AS Monaco, criticized that there had been very little contact with Tapalovic since he had been playing in France. “When I was in Monaco, there wasn’t much contact. Before that we had a normal relationship. I think you could have talked about the situation from time to time,” said Nübel in the “Aktuelle Sportstudio” of the ZDF. Salihamidzic then announced: “We will talk about that internally.”
“The criticism that Alex Nübel made that there was little contact with Tapalovic is understandable,” said former national goalkeeper René Adler in the “ran Bundesliga web show” before the separation became known. Tapalovic was not only Neuer’s friend, but also his best man and Manuel Neuer was his. “Perhaps this is a relationship that goes beyond friendship, almost like a family. Of course you have to see whether this objectivity is still there when it comes to assessing competitors,” said Adler.
Source: Stern
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