Bayern Munich sacked Oliver Kahn and prevented him from traveling with the team on the final day of the Bundesliga, fearing that the legendary goalkeeper would deal a blow to his successor Jan-Christian Dreesen.
Kahn is isolated
In Germany, people call him King Kahn. As a goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn was fierce, unapproachable and always shaggy, always displaying a wild temperament. When he became CEO of Bayern Munich , he designed the most refined, ambitious, innovative and elegant strategic plan in European football in a long time.
Kahn barely lasted two years in office. When fired last Friday by Herbert Hainer , the real power of Adidas, the head of the Bavarian industry and the first governing body of Germany’s most powerful social club, the images were grim. The reverberation emerges from the depths of the collective unconscious.
Bild newspaper reported on Sunday that Bayern actively prevented Kahn from attending the team’s final game in Cologne. Because, when he heard that he was sacked (but the decision was officially announced only after winning the Bundesliga), he was very aggressive. Angry.
Hainer confirmed it in a press conference he held the same day in Munich, in the context of Bayern going through the most serious institutional crisis of this century: “Although sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic understands this decision . ; Kahn reacted emotionally”.
The 53-year-old former goalkeeper publicly expressed his regret at not being allowed to attend the match against Cologne, where Bayern were fortunate to be crowned champions when Borussia Dortmund drew Mainz at home. What was supposed to be a funeral for an era of dominance turned into a party with the Meisterschale – as the Silver Plate for the Bundesliga champions – for the 11th time in a row.
An unprecedented hegemonic force in German football. Jan-Christian Dreesen, who until now has served as vice president of economics, took over from Kahn and handed the title to captains Kimmich and Neuer.
Journalist Pit Gottschalk, from Sport1, revealed on Sunday that Bayern management had prevented Kahn from traveling with the team out of fear. Physical fear of an attack on Dressen, especially when both leaders meet on a plane, or in a stadium VIP area.
Trouble from Dortmund
Things probably started to go awry in Dortmund, on October 8, 2022. That day, Borussia equalized 2-2 in the 95th minute, with a goal from Modeste. It’s been a frustrating time for a team trying to develop their most adventurous play since Guardiola’s departure in 2016 (1 win, 4 draw, 1 loss in 6 games).
With the signing of Julian Nagelsmann in 2021 and the biggest investment in player acquisition in its entire history, the southern German side intends to lead European football more than just by results.
The idea of Nagelsmann – whose first proponent was Kahn – is both bold, complex, and beautiful. It is the use of up to 6 attack links with radical position swaps, which makes Bayern’s attacks unique. Harder than anything Guardiola has tried.
But Nagelsmann needed time, his young personality raised doubts among the club’s senior leadership, starting with Uli Hoeness. Small problems that are not completely resolved become the bomb after that.
That fall day at Signal Iduna Park, when Modeste equalized at the last minute, Kahn transformed. Sitting in the VIP area, between Dressen and Hainer, the serenity of the gentle companions contrasts with the radical nature of the 2002 World Cup best player’s bout.
First, he jerked backwards while uttering a howl, then Kahn leaned forward swinging his limbs with all his might, as if he wanted to break the railing with a blow.
Television captured this moment. Kahn herself, perhaps also moved by her own feelings, posted the video on Twitter.
Bankruptcy of a project
The move to fire Nagelsmann falls into the realm of mystery. No one, neither the board of directors, nor the council of wise men headed by Hoeness, Kahn or Salihamidzic, is entirely responsible for the removal of the man who until recently was considered the Mozart of trainings. German member.
One thing is for sure, Nagelsmann was replaced by Thomas Tuchel on March 24 as the team played the best football, reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a winning record, topped the Bundesliga and has not been eliminated from the German Cup.
Kahn was a supporter of Nagelsmann, but was unable to defend him when Hoeness imposed his doubts on the board of directors.
This measure cancels Kahn’s project, which paid 20 million euros in 2021 to sign Nagelsmann from Leipzig.
The movement to recruit Harry Kane and Frenkie de Jong, the pillars of the team Nagelsmann imagined, soon died down. But Nagelsmann continued at Bayern. He has a contract until 2025 and the Bavarian club failed to reach an agreement to terminate his contract for less than 10 million euros.
“From here, I want to invite Julian to join the trophy party, because the Bundesliga belongs to him too,” said Salihamidzic, who was also sacked along with Kahn but is present in Cologne.
At the age of 71, Uli Hoeness once again took over the club. The former president, who supported Kahn’s appointment, ended up frustrated with how things turned out at the Allianz Arena.
He was accused by some employees of cold, autistic behavior, far removed from the warmth expected of leadership in a family-run organization, and too easily swayed by advice. of multinational consulting firms.
Hoeness took over the transition, starting with the May 30 governance meeting. First of all, he had to choose the sporting director. For now, Tuchel’s location seems safe. 350,000 Bayern members are watching nervously. Europe’s most stable club is reeling.