2023-10-13 17:19:00
Stone mug, wooden table, tavern atmosphere, cameras. A Hoeneß habitat.
The Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation invited people to a “Sunday get-together” on the day of the state elections. According to the company’s own statements, the beer and pretzels at the Brunnenwirt are “Bavarian, snappy, colorful.” For the biting part, the broadcaster invited Uli Hoeneß, the man behind FC Bayern and a polarizer on duty.
Things became too colorful for the honorary president of the German record champions when the right-wing extremist AfD was brought up. “For me, the AfD doesn’t exist because it doesn’t contribute anything to this country,” he said. As long as the AfD is electable, everyone can vote for it, but, according to Hoeneß, he will “never accept” the party – as long as he lives. Clear edge.
But it shouldn’t stay that way, Hoeneß is of the old ilk. A conservative. A keeper of what once was. Accordingly, the main culprits in the rise of the AfD were quickly found. The Greens had to hold out once more – in keeping with the CSU tradition. The 71-year-old – like many conservatives these days – identified himself as a nuclear power plant aficionado and complained regarding the shutdown of the remaining reactors.
Hoeneß with an all-round blow once morest the Greens
He ignored valid counterarguments from the other guests during his all-round attack on the Greens, which culminated in the exploitation of a resentment that was both common and questionable: the Greens’ obsession with prohibition was driving voters towards the right. “If Mr. Özdemir (Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, editor) wants to tell me that I shouldn’t put sugar in my coffee anymore…” Just regular chat. The fact that there never was such a demand is a given. However, Hoeneß’ statements are likely to catch the audience’s attention.
“Mr. Özdemir” promptly defended himself once morest the distortion of the facts and even accused Hoeneß of lying. “This is fake news. Drink your coffee black, with milk, sugar, sweetener or even with diced ham if you want,” wrote Özdemir. The self-confessed VfB Stuttgart fan added with a wink: “Or are you perhaps just annoyed because VfB is ahead of FCB in the table?”
A small tip with a view to the current Bundesliga table, a move away from the political to the sporting. Things finally got sporty at the “BR regulars’ table”. In fact, Hoeneß also commented on his baby, FC Bayern, during the program – and delivered headline following headline. Hoeneß described the fact that coach Julian Nagelsmann was fired by CEO Oliver Kahn and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic in March as “not necessarily smart”.
Hoeneß: Kahn? “A big mistake”
Hoeneß left no doubt that the decision was a solo effort by the two now ex-responsible people. Kahn in particular got his metaphorical fat trimmed. “The appointment of Oliver Kahn as CEO was a big mistake,” said Hoeneß: “And when I realized that he mightn’t do that, I spoke to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and changed that.”
Kahn’s work ethic apparently annoyed the Ulm native. “Oliver Kahn recently said in an interview: ‘A CEO doesn’t have to work 24 hours a day.’ I replied: ‘It should be twelve hours.'” Explosive statements in typical Hoeneß style. Statements that of course did not go unanswered. “To be honest, I’m surprised regarding it,” Kahn told Sport Bild.
Uli Hoeneß together with Oliver Kahn at an FC Bayern game.
Fotocredit: Getty Images
Kahn continued: “FC Bayern and I agreed in the summer that we wanted to close this chapter on friendly terms and that I would like to remain part of the Bayern family in the future.” From the former world goalkeeper’s point of view, Hoeneß’ words would not necessarily contribute to “respectful cooperation”. The fact that Hoeneß continues to be the undisputed head of the Bavarian family in question should not necessarily be beneficial for the relationship.
Hoeneß’ appearance in the Brunnenwirt wasn’t the only thing that caused excitement; just a few days later, the mastermind stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight once more. This time on “RTL”. The conversation with the private broadcaster was neither regarding politics nor regarding Oliver Kahn’s qualities as CEO; rather, the focus was on the German record champions’ transfer behavior.
After the earthquake, the head of the Hoeneß family was at least once once more in charge of the management team when it came to commitments. Harry Kane came to great fanfare from Tottenham Hotspur for a record fee, while Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), Konrad Laimer (Leipzig) and Min-Jae Kim (Naples) were brought to the Isar for defense. Coach Thomas Tuchel was denied a dream player: a classic six.
Hoeneß criticism of Tuchel: “Unwise”
Bayern also had three defenders in Benjamin Pavard (Inter), Lucas Hernández (PSG) and Josip Stanisic (loan / Leverkusen) and a six in Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool). The fact that Tuchel regularly publicly advertised for a new defensive midfielder and sometimes denounced the thin staffing level obviously didn’t sit well with Hoeneß.
“One or two of us, including the coach, made a few unwise statements,” explained Hoeneß. He added: “Because I don’t make my own team look bad by saying we are too thin. If you look at what we have on the bench every weekend – only national players – then we don’t have a thin squad.” National player or not – the personnel situation complained regarding by Tuchel has already taken a toll in this young season.
The Munich team will not spend a lot of money in the near future for a new six, such as their preferred candidate Joao Palhinha, whose transfer to the Isar failed shortly before the transfer deadline. “If we have the feeling that we need additions, we will do that,” said Hoeneß with a view to the winter transfer window. He restricted: “There certainly won’t be a big transfer offensive (…) That’s particularly pleasing to our account. We’re a commercial company.”
Jubilant account and a shaken Tuchel. An explosive mixture, just like Hoeneß’ statements regarding the less wise dismissal of Nagelsmann and the unwise statements of the new trainer. With his criticism of Tuchel, Hoeneß is weakening his position.
Bayern doesn’t cut a good figure when it comes to Boateng-Causa
The fact that the Tegernsee boss is commenting so frequently regarding everything and everyone these days is drawing the club’s attention to him. This suits the club, which once once more lived up to its dubious reputation as FC Hollywood. The out-of-contract ex-player Jerome Boateng was first identified as a possible alternative for the defense, invited to training and almost given a short-term working paper.
Jerome Boateng
Photo credit: Image
Only when large parts of the supporters announced large-scale protests due to Boateng’s legal history and threatening followingmath (alleged attack in 2018 on his then partner) did the club cancel the 2014 world champion. “The past, which is also burdened by the processes he has gone through, has led the club to refrain from making the commitment,” said Hoeneß. In addition, a Boateng commitment was “completely crazy” from an economic perspective.
Two aspects that might have been considered beforehand. The protagonists on Säbener Straße were once once more confronted with enormous criticism. Above all, new sports director Christoph Freund got into the media grip with an assessment of Boateng (private matter). Freund, who had previously worked for Red Bull Salzburg, seemed to have underestimated the significance of his statements as an employee of a world club.
Hoeneß stepped into the breach with his recent riotous interviews. Maybe even consciously. Bavarian, snappy, colorful. As ever.
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