- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Former Bayern Munich star Thorsten Fink is interested taking over at Scottish Premiership outfit Hibernian after the departure of Nick Montgomery.
HITC understands that, with the Edinburgh outfit on the lookout for a new boss, a man who won four Bundesliga titles and the Champions League title in 2001 during his playing career has emerged as someone on Hibs’ radar.
Thorsten Fink, the Dortmund-born 56-year-old, is currently under contract in Belgium with Sint Truiden. He is, however, of interest to a Hibernian side who moved on from Montgomery in mid-May.
And HITC have been told that, if approached by the team from Easter Road, Fink would be keen on hearing what Hibs have to offer.
Thorsten Fink interested in becoming Hibernian manager
Fink was part of the Bayern Munich side who suffered Camp Nou heartbreak to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United in 1999 – it was his clearance which led to Teddy Sheringham’s stoppage-time equaliser – but helped the Bundesliga powerhouses conquer Europe just two years later versus Valencia.
Since hanging up his boots prematurely due to injury in 2006, the well-travelled Fink has embarked upon a sprawling coaching career. He guided Basel a pair of Swiss League titles and the domestic cup in 2010 and 2011 before picking up two pieces of silverware in Japan with Vissel Kobe.
Before moving to Belgium, Fink also had spells in Cyprus (APOEL Nicosia), Austria (Austria Wien), Switzerland again (Grasshoppers), Latvia (Riga FC) and Dubai (Al-Nasr).
The interest in Fink emerged amid reports that Hibernian’s new sporting director – Malky Mackay – has put together a shortlist of potential targets. Football Scotland believes that Ajax assistant coach Michael Valkanis is under consideration, while club hero David Gray may be in line for an interview after a fourth spell in interim charge of the green-clad club.
David Gray keen on Easter Road stay
“I’ll always back myself, given the opportunity,” Gray recently said after Hibs’ disappointing eighth-place finish. “I’ve been in this position four times now and it’s been uncomfortable for a number of reasons, first and foremost because there are people losing their jobs who you have been working with.
“But in terms of backing my ability to be able to do the job, I 100 per cent believe I can do it.
“I’ve demonstrated that now on a few occasions but first and foremost I’m doing what the club have asked me to do. Until my position changes, it’s all about the club. It’s a fantastic club and it’s a fantastic job for whoever gets the opportunity to take the club forward.
“The decisions that are getting made in the background are all to try and move the club forward to where we believe it should be. It’s a challenge but it’s also one someone should be very excited about.”
Fink, who worked with World Cup winners Andres Iniesta and David Villa in Japan as well as Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi, was reportedly keen on taking over Hibernian’s capital city rivals Hearts in 2023 (Edinburgh Live).
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