Bayern to Part Ways with Coach Thomas Tuchel at Season End 

Bayern Munich's head coach Thomas Tuchel gestures before the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, Germany, 17 December 2023 (re-issued 21 February 2024). (EPA)
Bayern Munich's head coach Thomas Tuchel gestures before the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, Germany, 17 December 2023 (re-issued 21 February 2024). (EPA)
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Bayern to Part Ways with Coach Thomas Tuchel at Season End 

Bayern Munich's head coach Thomas Tuchel gestures before the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, Germany, 17 December 2023 (re-issued 21 February 2024). (EPA)
Bayern Munich's head coach Thomas Tuchel gestures before the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, Germany, 17 December 2023 (re-issued 21 February 2024). (EPA)

Bayern Munich have decided to end their collaboration with coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of the current season despite a contract to 2025, the club said on Wednesday. 

Bayern lost their last three games in all competitions, including a 3-0 defeat to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen and have now dropped eight points behind them in the Bundesliga. 

They were also beaten 1-0 by Lazio in last week's Champions League last first leg. 

Tuchel had taken over in March 2023 from Julian Nagelsmann, but despite leading them to the Bundesliga title last season on the final matchday, they have not shown the form this season that saw them dominate German football for the past decade. 

Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said there would be a "new direction" next season with a new coach. 

"In a good, open discussion, we came to the decision to end our working relationship by mutual agreement in the summer," Dreesen said. "Our goal is to pursue a new footballing direction with a new head coach for the 2024/25 season." 

"Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga. I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard." 

The coach, who in the past had been in charge at Borussia Dortmund, Paris St Germain and also won a Champions League title with Chelsea in 2021, said his remaining time in Munich would be focused on the remaining goals in the Bundelsiga and the Champions League. 

His first full season at Bayern had been hit by a string of injuries to key players and by what he had said was a relatively thin squad at the start of the campaign despite the arrival of Bundesliga record signing Harry Kane. 

"We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season," Tuchel said. "Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success." 

Bayern host RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday. 



Paralympic Triathlon Events Postponed Because of Poor Water Quality in Seine River

 View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
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Paralympic Triathlon Events Postponed Because of Poor Water Quality in Seine River

 View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)

Paralympic triathlon competitions in Paris scheduled for Sunday have been postponed because of concerns about water quality in the Seine River after heavy rainfall, organizers said.

The 11 para triathlon events are now scheduled for Monday, if upcoming water testing allows, the Paris 2024 organizing committee and World Triathlon said in a joint statement.

Rainstorms hit the French capital Friday and Saturday. Heavy rains cause wastewater and runoff to flow into the river, leading to a rise in bacteria levels including E. Coli.

This is the second scheduled change for the para triathlon events. They had initially been scheduled to take place over two days, Sunday and Monday, but were moved to Sunday because of rain forecasts.

The disruption is another hiccup for the city’s efforts to clean up the river for future public swimming, one of Paris’ most ambitious promises ahead of hosting the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. The men's individual triathlon event during the Paris Olympics was delayed and several test swims were canceled because of high E. coli levels after rainfall.

Some Olympic triathletes fell ill after swimming in the Seine, though it is unclear whether that was linked to the river water.