Bayern Munich are facing the unusual prospect of a trophyless season, but whatever happens in the remainder of the campaign it will be a summer of change for the German giants.
On Wednesday, Bayern confirmed manager Thomas Tuchel will depart the club in May.
The former Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund boss only took over last March but looks set to miss out on the Bundesliga title to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
It leaves Bayern on the hunt for a new manager who will likely be tasked with orchestrating a swift return to dominating the Bundesliga once more.
Will they turn to Alonso? And what next for Tuchel?
BBC Sport, with the help of European football experts Guillem Balague, Mina Rzouki and Archie Rhind-Tutt, takes a look.
A season that swiftly unravelled
It has often felt like a formality for Bayern to win the Bundesliga.
They’ve won it every season since 2012, but are now facing the very real prospect of missing out on the title this season to Leverkusen.
Alonso’s side are eight points clear at the top with 12 games to go and it would take some drop in form for them to miss out on their first league title.
The domestic cup has already gone for Bayern, after they lost to third-tier Saarbrucken back in November, and that leaves the Champions League as their only real chance of a trophy. Even then they will need to overturn a first-leg 1-0 defeat to Lazio in their last-16 tie.
Whatever happens, it looks like a significant summer of change for the club.
“Ultimately, Tuchel was not able to get the Bayern from the Bayern squad,” German football expert Rhind-Tutt said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast.
He added: “There is stuff you can pin on him, but ultimately there are bigger problems about the squad and players who are likely to go in the summer.
“They are seriously considering getting rid of Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies – they are wanting to start an upheaval.”
Alonso sought in managerial merry-go-round?
All eyes are going to be on Leverkusen boss Alonso this summer, unless clarity over his future comes before then.
The 42-year-old former Spain midfielder played for both Bayern Munich and Liverpool before retiring and he has been strongly linked with the managerial position at both clubs.
Jurgen Klopp is leaving Premier League leaders Liverpool in the summer and Alonso – who played for the Reds between 2004 and 2009 – appears to be the fans’ favourite to take over.
Balague said: “If you are going to go to a different club next, do you want to go to one that will maximise his potential right now – Liverpool – or one that is a bigger room for improvement, that has dropped a level but is still capable of winning everything – Bayern Munich.
“I think Bayern is the more interesting proposition for him at this stage of his career.”
