Despite Bayern’s support: Freund’s contract extension hangs in the balance | OneFootball

FC Bayern has already secured the long-term commitment of two key executives: Jan-Christian Dreesen and Max Eberl. Christoph Freund could be next. The sporting director’s contract runs through 2027, and club officials are generally in favor of continuing their collaboration. However, the 49-year-old’s future has not yet been definitively decided.

According to information from the Abendzeitung München, Freund enjoys a high level of trust both on the supervisory board and within the executive board. Among the leadership team—including Dreesen, Eberl, and Rouven Kasper—there is reportedly a clear majority in favor of a contract extension.

Thus, the decisive factor apparently lies less with FC Bayern than with Freund himself. According to the report, the Austrian is still in a deliberation phase and would like to have a few outstanding issues clarified before making a decision.

One of these apparently concerns the future structure of the scouting department. Like Freund, chief scout Nils Schmadtke is under contract until 2027. Currently, however, there are indications that the 37-year-old will not continue beyond that point.

Freund could be given more creative freedom

Should Schmadtke indeed leave the record-holding champions, Freund might have the opportunity to fill the key position of head scout according to his own vision.

That would be consistent with his position within the club, which has apparently been strengthened recently. Freund works closely with Campus Director Jochen Sauer. His relationship with sporting director Michael Wiesinger and head coach Vincent Kompany is also said to be very good.

Freund himself had already emphasized in April how important collaboration within the club is to him: “It’s fun, and how things work internally is important. And right now, it’s working very, very well.”

Even though his relationship with sporting director Max Eberl is said not to have always been entirely harmonious in the past, the two have recently taken joint responsibility for important personnel decisions. During the last summer transfer window, the Munich club signed Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari, among others.

At the same time, Bayern managed to generate transfer revenue from several young players. Noël Aséko, Jonah Kusi-Asare, Jonathan Asp Jensen, Wisdom Mike, and Maurice Krattenmacher brought in money for the record champions upon their departures.

Campus is becoming increasingly important for Bayern

Photo: IMAGO

Youth development, in particular, could be a decisive factor in continuing the collaboration with Freund. The 49-year-old is considered a key link between the youth academy and the professional team.

This area is gaining even greater importance in light of the skyrocketing transfer fees on the international transfer market. CEO Dreesen recently emphasized that Bayern intends to intensify its campus development efforts. The goal is both to develop talent for the club’s own team and to generate transfer revenue from players who have come through the system.

Freund’s profile thus fundamentally aligns with the record champion’s long-term strategy. At the same time, through his close collaboration with Sauer, Wiesinger, and Kompany, he has a strong internal network.

Bayern therefore appears ready to offer an extension. However, a quick signing is not guaranteed. First, it must apparently be clarified how Freund views his future role and the structures surrounding his area of responsibility.

The bottom line remains clear, however: FC Bayern wants to keep Freund beyond 2027. Now it remains to be seen whether the sporting director also sees his long-term future in Munich.