“Hope he has insight”
Bayern President is “ready” for Kahn reconciliation
05/28/2023, 8:35 p.m
It’s actually a day of celebration for FC Bayern: The women and men celebrate the German championship together at Marienplatz. But the complicated separation from ex-boss Oliver Kahn overshadowed the good mood, so President Herbert Hainer sent an offer of peace.
President Herbert Hainer of the German soccer champions Bayern Munich verbally shook hands with the dismissed CEO Oliver Kahn. “We are always ready” for reconciliation, Hainer said on the fringes of the celebrations at Marienplatz on BR, “I also wrote to Oliver that I can be reached at any time.” Kahn is “an icon of FC Bayern”, added Hainer. “I’m terribly sorry that things are falling apart like this. I hope that he will understand and come back.”
Bayern had parted ways with Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić on the home stretch of the season with the last-minute championship in Cologne (2-1). According to Hainer, Salihamidžić’s exit was “amicable” and the former professional also took part in the party, but Kahn stood in the way. There were contradictory statements from both sides about how the ex-captain was recalled, he was not allowed to celebrate and spoke of the “worst day of my life”.
FC Bayern, meanwhile, celebrated their fourth championship “double” on a packed Marienplatz in downtown Munich. Coach Thomas Tuchel’s men’s team and coach Alexander Straus’ women’s team were welcomed by around 20,000 enthusiastic fans on the town hall balcony. The city had to close the crowded square half an hour before the party started due to overcrowding.
At 6:28 p.m., captain Lina Magull and captain Manuel Neuer brought their respective bowls onto the balcony. In addition to club president Hainer and the new CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, the dismissed sports director Salihamidžić also celebrated. Mayor Dieter Reiter welcomed both teams at his official residence with the words: “You’ve been here a few times now, but I’ve never experienced anything like this weekend.” The success of the women reminded the SPD politician of his first football game as a fan at the Grünwalder Stadium, he said – a Bayern 11-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in 1971. “Congratulations – and see you next year,” Reiter exclaimed.
The men secured their eleventh title in a row on Saturday with a 2-1 win at 1. FC Köln. The women followed suit a day later with the 11:1 against Turbine Potsdam and celebrated their fifth championship.