It's not often the departure of a club doctor has the ability to cause major headlines across Europe but it's fair to say Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt is not your ordinary run of the mill physician .
The now former Bayern Munich club doctor left his post at the Allianz Arena last night after an intriguing sequence of events that could have ramifications for football outside Bavaria.
The 72 year old (yes that man really is 72), who has been called 'iconic' by German media today, has departed following a public falling out with manager Pep Guardiola. The situation came to a head following Bayern's surprise 3-1 Champions League defeat at the hands of Porto on Tuesday night.
Müller-Wohlfahrt departed last night saying the 'bond of trust' had been broken between Guardiola and his medical team after a season in which Bayern's squad has often been decimated by injury. On Tuesday, Bayern were unable to call upon Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Javi Martinez, David Alaba and Mehdi Benatia as a result of injury. Something which it seems the former Barcelona boss has not put down to merely bad luck.
Müller-Wohlfahrt's methods are known to be somewhat unusual, some might go as far as saying controversial, but his reputation as a near miracle worker is well established. He is put on a very high pedestal by those within Germany and his departure has left Guardiola on shaky ground to say the least.
Many have pointed to this moment in the German Cup game against Bayer Leverkusen as the beginning of the end of the relationship. This came moments after centre back Mehdi Benatia was forced off with an inhury and the gesture is widely assumed to have been directed at Müller-Wohlfahrt.
One way or another, that doesn't paint Guardiola in a particularly good light and although it had already been suggested that he would leave Bayern at the end of next season, if the club does depart the Champions League with this air of animosity, it could conceivably see Pep on the lookout for a new project in the summer.
