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Germany legend Oliver Kahn has been CEO of FC Bayern München AG since July 1, 2021. After around 18 months as a member of the board, during which he was able to familiarise himself with all aspects of the club, he took over the post from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. On Monday, the 52-year-old answered journalists’ questions for the first time as CEO together with president and supervisory board chairman Herbert Hainer.
Speaking on his new task, Oliver Kahn, said, “The last one and a half years have led to me feeling very much at home and also ensured I have the necessary tools. Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge left big shoes to fill. They shaped FC Bayern and made it one of the best clubs in the world. They’re major challenges. All of us at FC Bayern are now tasked with continuing to make the club as successful as possible in the future and to keep developing it little by little in one area or another.”
Herbert Hainer on Oliver Kahn said, “We chose Oliver Kahn very specifically at that time because we proceeded according to certain criteria – we wanted to have a football expert who knows FC Bayern but also has the economic competence to manage the AG. He’s now had 18 months to get to know the ‘new’ FC Bayern with all its departments again. There have been a lot of developments. He’s worked closely with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. He’s made incredibly good use of the time. I’ve seen him being very active and I’m looking forward to working with him. I’m absolutely convinced that Oliver Kahn is exactly the right man for the future of FC Bayern. He has clear goals in mind and he’s FC Bayern through and through. He made history as a goalkeeper and I’m convinced he will do the same as a manager.”
Oliver Kahn on his goals at the club said, “Our goal is to show absolute world-class football, always including the combination of young players we’ve developed ourselves and top international stars. We want to achieve something that no club in the European top leagues has ever managed – to become champions ten times in a row. That would be extraordinary. But we also want to be at the top internationally, to keep winning the Champions League. We have to think about how to set ourselves up economically so we can accomplish these goals. That won’t be an easy task. But we’re convinced that we’re well-positioned and that we can face all these challenges positively.”
On new coach Julian Nagelsmann, Oliver Kahn, said, “At FC Bayern, success has to come very quickly. We’re convinced we have exactly the right man in Julian Nagelsmann. FC Bayern is voracious when it comes to title ambitions. Julian Nagelsmann is a young, ambitious coach. He can bring players on you might not have had on your radar. We’re wholeheartedly convinced we’ll enter a new era at FC Bayern with him.”
Herbert Hainer added, “We want continuity in the head coach position. Julian represents all the things we want at FC Bayern in future. On the one hand, the hunger for success, on the other hand, the development of young players too, that the investment we’ve put into the campus bears fruit. That will become ever more important in the future, also in view of the economic conditions.”
On the return of fans, Oliver Kahn, said, “It’s clear to all of us where we want to go with FC Bayern: We want to offer our many fans around the globe world-class football. That’s what we’re working on day and night. There’s nothing better than bringing joy to the fans. One thing is very clear: we want to have spectators back in the stadium as soon as possible, but health comes first. We’re working together with the DFL so we can all soon celebrate watching live football again.”
Herbert Hainer added, “We’re in very close discussions with the government and the authorities. We firmly expect to be able to play in front of fans at the beginning of the season. People’s health always comes first, of course. At the start of the Bundesliga, however, there will certainly be considerably more than the 1,500 fans allowed in at the upcoming friendly matches. We’re in close discussions with the authorities and the health authorities there.”
On the first team squad going into the season, Oliver Kahn, said, “We have full confidence in our squad. Some players have returned from loan spells, like [Joshua] Zirkzee or [Chris] Richards. I’ve often experienced that returnees like that have made unexpected developments. We also expect that from Julian Nagelsmann, that he takes players like that to a new level. We did our homework early on, among other things with the signing of Upamecano. Our squad is very well-positioned at the moment. Winning the Champions League is achievable with our squad.”
Herbert Hainer added, “We have many young players in their prime, almost all of whom are internationals. We’ve succeeded well in making the transition. The current team has incredible quality.”
Oliver Kahn on Dayot Upamecano said, “Of course we expect him to perform like he did at Leipzig. We’ve been watching him for a few years. We’re convinced he can absolutely help us with his quality – his tackling skills, his build-up play, his technique. We won’t sign a player for over 40 million if we’re not one hundred per cent convinced by him.”
