Bayern Munich president, Uli Hoeneß, recently said in an interview at the opening of the new FC Bayern Campus, that his club should return to its roots. By that, he explained, Bayern should move away from expensive signings, and prolific transfers in general, and focus on developing home grown talent. The newly established FC Bayern Campus, a complete football academy, will provide the setting for that.
Thank you, Mr. Hoeneß, because I wholeheartedly agree with you. I have been saying that ever since Pep Guardiola came to Bayern, who changed Bayern to a transfer club, instead of promoting its own youth players. Ancelotti seems to follow Guardiola's transfer philosophy, apparent in the James Rodríguez signing.
Under Guardiola, within three years, Bayern purchased 13 players spending north of €200 million (Transfermarkt.com). While Kimmich has proven a smart signing, most of Guardiola's transfers were not well-thought out. Thiago, Vidal, Alonso, Benatia, Götze have failed to meet Bayern's title expectations at the international level. Not to mention, many left Bayern shortly. None of the players fit the style of Bayern, which is very much in the mold of the German National team, exciting fast-attacking football. Thiago, who is a regular starter and supposed to be the main play maker, is a possession-oriented player used at his former club FC Barcelona. Hence, bringing a brigade of Spanish players completely changed the make up of Bayern, which changed Bayern to a possession team. That must be reversed fast to keep alive Bayern Munich's identity and DNA.
The last great Bayern squad was under Jump Heynckes which was similar to the years under manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, which was my favorite Bayern era. Let's look at three Bayern starting line ups from three Champions League finals:
1999
Goal: Kahn Defense: Babbel, Linke, Kuffour, Tarnat Midfield: Basler, Effenberg, Jeremies, Zickler Forward: Jancker
2001
Goal: Kahn Defense: Linke, Andersson, Kuffour Midfield: Lizarazu, Effenberg, Hargreaves, Sagnol, Salihamidžić, Scholl Forward: Élber
2013
Goal: Neuer Defense: Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba Midfield: Martínez, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Müller, Ribéry Forward: Mandžukić
All these line ups represent in my view the perfect balance of transfers and home grown talent. Many are German National team players, already familiar with FC Bayern football, inherently and unmistakably German football, the most beautiful style of football in the world. The world was able to see it in the FIFA World Cup of 2014.
Under manager Ottmar Hitzfeld (1998-2004), Bayern purchased 19 players totaling €106 million, averaging about €5.5 million per player.
Under manager (2011-2013) Jupp Heynckes, Bayern purchased 10 players totaling €122million, averaging about €12 million per player.
And then came Pep Guardiola, who was given such freedom to purchase his desired players that he changed the DNA of Bayern Munich. Under Guardiola, Bayern purchased 13 players totaling €203 million, averaging about €15 million per player.
Now manager Carlo Ancelotti is at the helm of the team, and his "wish signing" according to chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was James Rodríguez, which Bayern graciously granted.
Here is the fundamental problem with these mega transfers. Whenever a team feels the need to shed excessive amounts of money to sign a player, it means the team is dependent on individual players for its success. But Bayern Munich, as I have known and loved, always has been about team, and not any individual "stars".
Therefore, I am very pleased to see club president Hoeneß echo what I have been wishing to see. Go back to your roots, Bayern. Don't become the German Real Madrid. Let's see when that will materialize, which must begin with the sales of Thiago, Vidal, Rodríguez as soon as possible.
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