Bayern coach gets the boot

FRANKFURT, Germany — Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich praised Julian Nagelsmann as an “outstanding” coach Friday, but such praise wasn’t enough to save Nagelsmann’s job.

The 35-year-old manager was fired Friday and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.

Three assistant coaches were fired as well. Kicker magazine and German tabloid Bild reported Thursday that Bayern was about to end Nagelsmann’s spell in charge following the team’s 2-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.

“I can only say that Julian Nagelsmann is an outstanding coach. Really, I’ve had a lot of coaches and a lot of top coaches and despite that I’d say he’s easily in the top three of my best coaches,” Kimmich told reporters Friday as he prepared to captain Germany in a friendly against Peru on Saturday. “As things stand at the moment, you can surely understand that I can’t say anything” about the reports, he added.

Germany coach Hansi Flick, who was Nagelsmann’s predecessor at Bayern, said he was “very surprised” to see reports saying Nagelsmann would be removed.

The defeat to Leverkusen dropped Bayern to second place in the Bundesliga.

Tuchel, 49, recently sacked by Chelsea, signed a contract to June 2025 and will start on Monday, Bayern said in a news release.