Bayern Munich board member claims a skiing holiday cost Julian Nagelsmann his job

Football managers have been sacked for all manner of different reasons down the years, but in the instance of Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich, it appears a skiing holiday factored into the club's decision to let him go.

According to Bayern board member and ex-club legend Uli Hoeness, Nagelsmann decided to go skiing the wake of his side's dismal 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last month.

This (seemingly) proved to be a fateful error, as just days later the 35-year-old would be sacked as Bayern head coach, and swiftly replaced by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

In a recent interview with German outlet Kicker, Hoeness provided some context to the sacking, which took much of the footballing world by surprise.

He stated: "Nagelsmann should not have gone on a skiing holiday after the defeat in Leverkusen."

According to Hoeness, who played for Bayern between 1970 and 1979, the trip meant he didn't meet with the board over the international break - which ultimately could have saved his job.

The 71-year-old added: "If he had stayed in Munich, they would have met him and spoken to him Monday or Tuesday.

"And who knows what would have happened then?"

Julian Nagelsmann managing against Tottenham in the Champions League. Image: Alamy

While the skiing holiday is a convenient, if slightly strange excuse for the firing, reports suggest it was fuelled by a great deal more than poor performances.

According to The Athletic, Nagelsmann had a strained relationship with many members of the Bayern squad, failing to stamp his authority on the dressing room.

As a result, the Bundesliga giants drafted in Tuchel, who got off to an immediate winning start as Bayern boss after guiding his new side to a crucial 4-2 win over fellow title-challengers Borussia Dortmund.

As for Nagelsmann, job offers certainly won't be hard to come by, with numerous reports linking the young manager with the Spurs job following Antonio Conte's sacking.

Thomas Tuchel replaced Nagelsmann as Bayern head coach last month. (Alamy)

The Sun suggest that Chelsea and Real Madrid could also be keen on hiring him, after Bayern paid the highest-ever manager compensation fee in history to sever ties.

Nagelsmann got the job at Bayern following impressive spells at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, guiding the former to Champions League Qualification for the very first time back in 2017.

While he would end his spell at RBL trophyless, the man from Landsberg am Lech did deliver Bayern yet another Bundesliga title last season, as well as a pair of DFB Supercup wins.