There had been rumours, but now it’s official: following the departure of head of scouting Nils Schmadtke, FC Bayern is also ending its working relationship with head youth scout Florian Zahn.
In the wake of head of scouting Nils Schmadtke’s departure on 31 January 2027 and the resulting reorganisation of the talent scouting department, Florian Zahn had recently come under scrutiny. He had joined the Bayern Campus from Chelsea FC in 2019 and had since held various roles at FC Bayern. Only the official confirmation from the record champions had been pending until now.
Since Wednesday morning, the situation has been clear: as expected, Zahn must step down from his post. According to the Bundesliga club, the decision was preceded by a “constructive discussion”, following which both sides mutually agreed to end their working relationship.
“Over the past few years, Florian and his team have identified many talented players who have made the transition to professional football or are on the verge of doing so,” said sporting director Christoph Freund, expressing his gratitude to the 44-year-old and wishing him all the best for the future.
Zahn leaves with pride
Zahn himself looks back with satisfaction on the past few years, during which he was able to play an active role in shaping the recruitment and development of national and international talent. “Having been given this opportunity at the club I love fills me with pride and great gratitude. After seven years at the club, it feels right to pursue my aspirations for personal and professional development.”
What the future holds for FC Bayern’s scouting department remains to be seen for the time being. There will be no immediate successor to Zahn; a new appointment to the youth development role is not planned until the new long-term strategy has been finalised.