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Jupp Heynckes Was Convinced To Return To Bayern In A Surprising Way

Jupp Heynckes Was Convinced To Return To Bayern In A Surprising Way

The former Real Madrid manager is back for his fourth stint in charge at Bayern Munich after Carlo Ancelotti's recent sacking.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

After winning the treble in your last season as a manager and then spending four years quietly and happily retired what would convince you that a return was a good idea? For Jupp Heynckes that convincing came from a surprising source.

How do you follow a manager who has just won the treble? That's the problem that Bayern Munich have face four the past four years as first Pep Guardiola and then Carlo Ancelotti weren't considered good enough.

Despite winning the Bundesliga title in the four seasons since Bayern replaced Jupp Heynckes with Guardiola neither of the two men who have held the job since could come close to winning the Champions League.

Ancelotti's title win was nowhere near enough to keep him in a job. Image: PA

When Carlo Ancelotti followed up last season's Champions League quarter final exit with a poor start to this season the Italian was sacked, just months after winning the German league.

With no manager Bayern turned to Heynckes and persuaded him to come out of retirement but talking at his press conference the 72 year old revealed that it was his dog's reaction to the news that made him take the job:

"I would not have returned to any other club in the world, but the Bayern Munich is a love affair for me. My daughter and my wife advised me on my decision. Then my dog Cando barked twice and the deal was sealed."

Jupp Heynckes not at training but actually out walking his dog as they discuss tactics. Image: PA

Of course as weird as it may sound that he seemingly took advice from the family dog he's clearly not the only football figure to do so, Roy Keane often sought career advice from his dogs and rumour has it Alexis Sanchez' pooches don't want him to sign a new deal at Arsenal so he hasn't.

The 72 year-old German, that's Heynckes and not a really old Shepherd dog, is now in his fourth stint at Bayern having won Bundesliga three times and the Champions League once with them previously.

We'll have to wait till the end of the season to see if he was barking mad to take the job again and whether he should have pawsed before accepting the job. Hopefully it won't be a ruff season ahead...

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Dog, Bayern Munich