Jupp, he’s back, again. Jupp Heynckes was appointed to be the new Bayern Munich coach through the end of the season on Friday, the German’s fourth stint with the club dating back to 1987. Heynckes replaces Carlo Ancelotti, who was canned in September after a 3-0 hiding from Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League combined with a slow start in the Bundesliga.
There’s still no timetable on Borussia Dortmund attacker Marco Reus’s return to action following a ruptured cruciate ligament in last season’s DFB Pokal final, but the German international has revealed the depths of his desperation following the latest injury setback in a seemingly cursed career.
Borussia Dortmund had a strong first half on Saturday against Augsburg, taking a 2-1 lead into the break on the back of two gorgeous goals and expecting to stretch out its lead in the second half in the same way that saw them score 19 goals in their first six matches. Instead, Augsburg hung tough and stayed in the match until the match ended 2-1 thanks to some questionable decision making from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Claudio Pizarro doesn’t have amazing speed. He doesn’t dominate with his strength. He doesn’t even really look like much of a striker (maybe a defender). But all he does is score goals year after year. Now the soon-to-be 39-year-old is returning to the Bundesliga. Claudio Pizarro signed with FC Cologne on a one-year contract on Friday.
If you’re curious as to why you’re suddenly being inundated with photos of Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti looking quizzical with his eyebrow cocked, it’s because Bayern Munich have parted ways with the coach following their 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Bayern Munich goalkeeper and Germany No. 1 Manuel Neuer is out until January after undergoing foot surgery recently. While Neuer is considered one of the best goalies in the world, most assumed Bayern would have the strength and depth to maintain its high standars without him. That was until a Sven Ulreich howler cost the German giants two points on Friday.
The Bundesliga may be lagging far behind the English Premier League in terms of popularity in the United States, but the German league is far ahead in signing American players. Josh Sargent is the latest as the 17-year-old agreed on Wednesday to join Werder Bremen in February.