Why Wenger is the perfect coach for Bayern Munich

season, but is looking for a new challenge and is the ideal candidate for the Bavarians
This is a new era for Bayern Munich. In the past decade, the club has gone through difficult patches but always able to salvage the situation and return to greatness.

On each of those occasions, the solution was identical: Call Jupp Heynckes. The legendary coach was the man the Bayern bosses turned to in times of crisis, returning him to the dugout every time the team was underperforming.

After they won the treble in 2012-13, Heynckes retired to be replaced by Pep Guardiola in Munich. That had been his third spell at the club, but last season, general manager Uli Hoeness called him up once more, convincing him to put his retirement on hold to rescue the club after a disastrous start to the 2017-18 campaign under Carlo Ancelotti.

Bayern wanted Heynckes to stay on for another year, but he refused. The 73-year-old instead backed Thomas Tuchel as his replacement at the Allianz Arena, but the former Borussia Dortmund boss had his head turned by the money on offer at Paris Saint-Germain, leaving Bayern reeling in their search for a successor.

Former Bayern midfielder Niko Kovac was the man ultimately chosen to take the reins following an impressive spell in charge of Eintracht Frankfurt, which culminated in a thrilling DFB-Pokal final victory over the Bavarians.

The Croatian started life brightly in Munich, but soon results started to go against him, putting the 47-year-old under immense pressure after just a few months.

Tuesday's 5-1 win over Benfica has given him some breathing space but, despite repeatedly backing Kovac, Hoeness is still believed to be considering wielding the axe.

Last weekend's 3-3 draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf did not sit well with the Bayern chief. Two goals up on the relegation favorites with 15 minutes remaining, Bayern capitulated once again, failing to record a home win for the fourth league game in a row.