Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick has revealed that he plans to leave the German champions at the end of the season.
Despite winning six trophies over the past 12 months, Flick said after Saturday’s 3-2 win at Wolfsburg – that left the Bavarians seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga – that he “wants to be released” from his contract that expires in 2023.
The 56-year-old, who steered Bayern to a remarkable run of success after taking over from Niko Kovac in 2019, said his players had already been told.
"I told the team that I informed the club during the week that I want out of my contract at the end of the season," Flick said. "It was not an easy decision for me."
Tensions have been simmering behind the scenes between Flick and Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic over player recruitment.
"I have discussed things internally with those responsible. The reasons will remain internal for now," added Flick, who said he made his decision after "careful consideration".
The rift was triggered after Salihamidzic confirmed Jerome Boateng will not be kept on next season. Flick made it clear he wanted to keep the 32-year-old centre-back.
Being released from his Bayern contract would clear the way for Flick to take charge of Germany after Euro 2020.
Flick is one of the leading candidates to be Germany manager after Joachim Low steps down following the June 11-July 11 tournament. He was Low's assistant coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil.
"The future is absolutely not clear," he said. "There has been no discussions regarding that. Obviously the [German] FA is an option which every coach has to think about. But this [decision] is independent of that.
"But I have to digest everything now. The last few weeks were not easy. That is why it was very important to say it to the club and the team."
The Bavarians, who were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain last week in the Champions League quarter-finals, are seven points clear with five games remaining and on course for a record-extending ninth consecutive league crown.
On Saturday, teenager Jamal Musiala scored two goals and was involved in the other to secure three points at Wolfsburg.
Musiala, 18, opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he eluded three Wolfsburg defenders before squeezing his shot under goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
Musiala was again involved for Bayern’s second in the 24th minute, playing in David Alaba. The Austrian defender, who is also leaving the club this summer, saw his cross dropped by Casteels right at the feet of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who gratefully tapped it in.
Wout Weghorst pulled one back against the run of play in the 35th, but Thomas Muller crossed for Musiala to head in his second goal two minutes later. Wolfsburg's Maximilian Philipp scored their second from a Paulo Otavio cross but Bayern held on for victory.
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Commission caps
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• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
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