Christoph Freund feels the experience he gained while working his magic in the transfer market at Salzburg will help him be a success in his new role at Bayern Munich. - © IMAGO/GEPA pictures

bundesliga

Christoph Freund to become Bayern Munich sporting director

18.07.2023

Christoph Freund is set to become the new sporting director at Bayern Munich on 1 September after agreeing to leave a similar role at Austrian champions Salzburg.

Bayern have been considering a new appointment since parting ways with Hasan Salihamidzic at the end of last season, and the reigning German champions have now settled on Freund.

The 46-year-old Austrian – who has been in his current position with Salzburg since 2015 – will start his new job at the end of the current summer transfer window.

"We are delighted that we have been able to bring in such an experienced and successful sporting director for FC Bayern in Christoph Freund," Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said after news of the move was made public on Tuesday.

"We are convinced that he is the right person to strengthen the team in the future, together with Thomas Tuchel's coaching team and technical director Marco Neppe. It has been mutually agreed with Red Bull Salzburg – where Christoph Freund has done an outstanding job – that he will still fully shape the current transfer period with his long-time employer and will not join us until the beginning of September."

Freund played for Austria Salzburg as a youth before returning to the city to join the off-field staff at the club in 2006. He became their sports co-ordinator in 2012 and then succeeded Ralf Rangnick as sporting director in time for the 2015/16 season.

Salzburg have enjoyed huge success during that period, winning 10 league titles in a row and reaching the UEFA Europa League semi-finals in 2018. They have been a regular in the UEFA Champions League group stage since 2020 and got to the last 16 in 2022 when they were beaten by Bayern.

Strong recruitment – overseen by Freund – has been a major reason for such achievements. Since 2015 they have signed the likes of Erling Haaland and Karim Adeyemi and have seen that pair as well as players such as Amadou Haidara, Naby Keita, Dominik Szoboszlai and Dayot Upamecano move on for big money.

"After the talks with the FC Bayern management, it was clear to me that I wanted to accept this new challenge," Freund said.

With Christoph Freund playing a key role behind the scenes, Salzburg have won multiple Austrian Bundesliga titles of late. - IMAGO/GEPA pictures

"I'm really looking forward to giving everything I can, with all my energy and passion, from 1 September onwards, to ensure that this club continues to be so successful in sporting terms in the future, that it continues to be amongst the world's top teams, and that it inspires its fans with attractive football.

"It is important to me that a club has an identity, and that is what FC Bayern stands for without question. I am very grateful to Salzburg for 17 successful and emotional years, and I will be just as committed to the club in this transfer period as I am known to be."