Bayern Munich have moved to play down speculation that Hertha Berlin boss Markus Babbel is being lined up to replace Jupp Heynckes at the end of the season.

 

Babbel has led Hertha to a comfortable mid-table spot in the Bundesliga in what is their first season back in the top flight after relegation to the 2.Bundesliga in the 2009/10 campaign.

 

The 39-year-old started his managerial career with VfB Stuttgart in 2008 before parting company with the Swabian giants in December 2009.

 

Babbel was then handed the reins at Hertha and charged with regaining top flight status for the club – a feat he achieved at the first attempt, winning the 2.Bundesliga in the process.

 

The former Germany international defender, who enjoyed spells with Bayern Munich, Hamburg, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Stuttgart in an illustrious playing career – Babbel won an unprecedented cup treble at Anfield – has been tipped as a rising managerial star.

 

And speculation has swirled that Bayern Munich are keen on bringing their former favourite, who was also born in the city, to the club as coach in the future.

 

But talk that a move could happen has been rubbished by president Uli Hoeness, who is angry at the undermining of Heynckes’ position.

 

"It’s total stupidity, this news isn’t true", Hoeness told German daily Bild.

 

"Heynckes’ contract is set to expire in 2013 and nobody has thought about another coach."

 

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