Former Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has tipped Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink as a future boss of the Bavarian giants after he steered Hamburg away from relegation this season.
Fink, a former Bayern midfielder, joined Hamburg from FC Basel in October and is undefeated as the north German team have clawed their way up to 13th in the German league and host defending champions Dortmund on Sunday.
Current Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes turns 67 in May and 44-year-old Fink would make a good replacement says Beckenbauer, who coached and captained Germany to their World Cup successes of 1974 and 1990 respectively.
"Jupp Heynckes is 67, but he does not have the genes of (Italian coach Giovanni) Trapattoni who at his age (72 years) is still leading the Irish," Beckenbauer told German daily Bild.
"Fink is someone for Bayern."
Beckenbauer, dubbed 'the Kaiser' in Germany, said Fink has proved himself to be a "wizard" for turning Hamburg's fortunes around and bringing "stability at all levels".
Fink is under contract with Hamburg until June 2014, while Heynckes's deal with Bayern expires in 2013.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern have repeatedly expressed interest in extending Heynckes' contract, but the former Bayer Leverkusen boss says it is "too early" to talk about it.
Source: AFP
