Why Do Former Bayern Munich Stars Avoid Working at the Club?
The German football legends Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge left a huge legacy at Bayern Munich over several decades. However, the Bavarian giant is currently struggling to find distinguished leaders among its former stars.
Hoeneß, the honorary president of Bayern Munich, explained the absence of high-profile former players in the club’s management.
He said on a podcast:
“Nowadays, a player retiring after 10 years, earning around 15 million euros per year, ends up with 60 to 70 million in their bank accounts. They don’t face financial pressure that would push them to work to support their families’ lifestyle, and this is a big problem.”
After retiring in 1979, Hoeneß knew he would have to work hard to live a decent life. He became Bayern Munich’s sporting director and built a sausage factory. He said conditions have changed and attributed this to the high standard of living in Germany.
“In Germany, there is a general sense of self-satisfaction. Many young players are not willing to put in extra effort to become professionals,” he added.
He continued: “Everyone wants to be a professional footballer, but they don’t pursue it seriously. Success requires tireless work.”
After Hoeneß and Rummenigge, Oliver Kahn became Bayern Munich’s CEO in July 2021 but was dismissed in less than two years due to internal disagreements. He was replaced by Jan-Christian Dreesen, a banking expert.
Hoeneß praised Dreesen’s performance but noted: “The return of club legends to top positions will remain a dream.”
Hoeneß also revealed that he approached Bastian Schweinsteiger a few months ago about becoming a coach at Bayern Munich. Schweinsteiger reportedly asked if he would need to be present at the club daily; when Hoeneß confirmed, Schweinsteiger declined.
Additionally, Thomas Müller was offered a club-funded trip around the world to visit major clubs in North America before joining Bayern’s management. However, Müller hesitated due to the timing of the proposal.
