Bayern Munich announces Salihamidzic as new sporting director

Hasan Salihamidzic, who won six Bundesliga titles as a Bayern Munich player, has been named the club's new sporting director.

Bayern Munich has announced the appointment of the club's former midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic as its new sporting director.

Salihamidzic won six Bundesliga titles with Bayern during his playing career and was confirmed in the role at a press conference on Monday.

Bayern has operated without a sporting director for the last year after Matthias Sammer stepped down from the role due to ill health.

Captain Philipp Lahm had been expected to take up the role but the right-back opted to take time away from the game following his retirement at the end of the season.

"Bayern has been everything to me," said Salihamidzic, who has agreed a deal to 2020. "I could identify with the club 100 per cent - that is still true today. For me it was always clear that I was coming back."

"I know all the structures in the club. I will also tackle my new task the same way I played. I am available 24 hours a day for the players."

Bayern head coach Carlo Ancelotti seemed unimpressed with the impending arrival of Bayern's new sporting director when he spoke to the media earlier on Monday.

"I do not know who is being presented," Ancelotti told reporters. "I do not think that last season anything was missing, but the club was of the opinion that a new sports director was required. He is definitely welcome."

While Ancelotti was evidently content to continue without a sporting director at the Allianz Arena, president Uli Hoeness indicated filling the role was a priority for the club.

"In the last few months, it has become clear to us that we have to fill the position again," he said. "One thing is also clear: there will be no transfer negotiations in which Hasan Salihamidzic is not sitting at the table.

"If you want to get to know a team, you have to sit on the bench. You must also be in the dressing room."