“Doesn’t correspond to the truth”
Oliver Kahn is in trouble with FC Bayern again
December 21, 2023, 3:42 p.m
In May, the relationship between Oliver Kahn and FC Bayern Munich broke up with a lot of ruckus. You pick up the shards with difficulty, and then it rattles again.
Oliver Kahn’s era as CEO of German soccer record champions FC Bayern ended with a lot of noise in the summer. But that probably wasn’t the end. As “Sport Bild” reports, there is also a threat of legal disputes in the meantime. Bavarian patriarch Uli Hoeneß is said to have had legal mail in his mailbox from the Kahn side after an appearance in the “Stammtisch” on Bayerischer Rundfunk.
In October, Hoeneß said there: “The appointment of Kahn was a big mistake.” The accusation is that Kahn didn’t work hard enough. “Oliver Kahn recently said in an interview: ‘A CEO doesn’t have to work 24 hours a day.’ I replied: ‘But it should be twelve.'” said Hoeneß. As the paper claims to have learned, Kahn’s lawyers then warned that they had actually agreed to keep the separation confidential. “If there is another violation, Kahn will announce legal action. The Bayern leadership implores Hoeneß to moderate himself in the future,” writes “Sport Bild”.
“Regardless of the renewed indiscretion…”
Now the dispute between FC Bayern and its former world-class player and later CEO is entering the next round – because Kahn insists on reacting to the reports. “I would like to finally comment on the current reporting: FC Bayern and I agreed in the summer of this year that we would end our collaboration and that we would continue to treat each other with respect in the future,” writes Kahn on X. “Regardless of the renewed indiscretion or not Based on the truthful representation of events, I will continue to behave fairly towards FC Bayern.”
After a turbulent season with only one title, the Munich team parted ways with their leading duo Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić at the end of the season in May. While the release of sports director Salihamidžić was by mutual agreement, the separation of Kahn was accompanied by some noise. “I would like to celebrate with you, but unfortunately I can’t be with you today because I was forbidden from doing so,” tweeted the fired CEO after the final whistle of the last Bundesliga game in Cologne.
And in order to quickly clear up any misunderstandings, he quickly edited his entry again: “Because I was forbidden from doing so by the club.” Kahn later criticized the club again for excluding him from the championship celebration. “That was the worst day of my life, depriving myself of celebrating with the boys,” he told Sky 90.
Hainer had reported that Kahn had freaked out in the conversation in which he found out about his early exit. “It was very emotional,” said Hainer. Kahn, in turn, remembers a “calm and objective” conversation. Honorary President Uli Hoeneß, who had the difficult conversation with Kahn together with Hainer, later supported the president’s account. It was “not a pleasant conversation” with Kahn. During the conversation, Kahn verbally attacked his successor Jan-Christian Dreesen. In order to avoid a possible escalation, Kahn was advised to no longer be part of the record champions’ entourage, unlike Salihamidžić in Cologne.
“irritations of the last days”
Bayern President Herbert Hainer later reported on the start of the peace process with Kahn: “I spoke to Oliver Kahn on the phone last week. FC Bayern Munich is always ready to extend a hand. I am also relatively sure that the relationship will return to normal and Oliver will return to the FC Bayern family,” the 68-year-old told “Bild”.
Kahn, in turn, had already de-escalated: “We will sit down together – when everything has cooled down – and talk about everything calmly,” the 53-year-old told the newspaper. “Even though the current situation isn’t easy at the moment, for me the many great experiences with FC Bayern far outweigh the negative ones. Even the irritations of the last few days won’t change that.”
After a phase of relative calm between FC Bayern and the club idol, there is now irritation again. “It should also be in the interests of the club that we finally close this chapter peacefully at the end of the year,” wrote Kahn. “I’m happy to remain part of the FC Bayern family, my heart will always beat for this club.” The multiple world goalkeeper won the Champions League with FC Bayern in 2001 and the German championship eight times.