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Uli Hoeneß says goodbye: "I did a great job"

2019-08-30T14:58:33.374Z


At the press conference to retreat, Uli Hoeneß once again makes a memorable appearance. The still-president shows his distance to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. And of course praises himself.



At the very end, Uli Hoeneß leaned on top of the podium to become the media director of FC Bayern. "Do we have it?" Hoeness asked. Stefan Mennerich nodded, then Hoeneß grabbed the big picture frame under his arm, which Kar-Heinz Rummenigge had handed over to him before and made off. "Goodbye together," Hoeneß called out to the reporters.

On Thursday evening, the FC Bayern had announced in a press release that Hoeneß at the Annual General Meeting on 15 November will no longer be running. On Friday, Hoeneß joined the press. For 45 minutes, over the duration of a football half-time, he explained the reasons for his withdrawal and talked about his plans for the future. This performance, one of his last public as a club boss, was as memorable and entertaining as it has been many times in the past decades. A real Hoeneß just. Uli unplugged.

Criticism of the members shook him

Hoeneß was satisfied with himself. "It was a decision that has grown over the past year," he said, "my wife often reminded me at breakfast that she also wanted to spend more time with me." The real impetus to think about whether he should start again, but would not have given wife Susi, but the Annual General Meeting last November, as he left behind the fierce criticism of some members of his office, the stunned and dismayed. "That's the first time I thought, Oops, what happens when you're gone?"

Dad, let it be good

For a long time he had discussed with his family during the summer vacation, evening after evening. With the children Florian and Sabine, but both stood on the side of their mother, with the tenor: Papa, let it be good. Crucial to the decision to withdraw now, but had been three points: The current balance sheets of the club with another record sales. The sporting success at the national level. And, of course, the knowledge of his successor, whom Hoeneß knows best, whom he can appreciate, who he knows will continue his life's work in his own interest.

Herbert Hainer, who, like Hoeneß, comes from a butcher's family and made it out of simple circumstances to become a top manager. One who is similarly ticking, and Hoeness said: "If you can lead Adidas, you can also run Bayern."

PHILIPP GUELLAND / EPA-EFE / REX

Soon separated: Munich and U. Hoeneß

Nothing was to be seen this Friday from that Hoeness, who over decades repeatedly vigorously justified his chief position as head of the attack department, raging and raging as he did ten months ago at the legendary press conference on Säbener Strasse. And yet the old Hoeneß always flashed through when he approached a reporter: "A brisk question," or, "Do not be ridiculous."

"I wanted to go through the open gate"

Of course, this time also self-praise was not to be missed, that was always part of it when he showed his unshakeable self-confidence. "There are so many politicians and business leaders who were big and slaughtered," Hoeneß said. "I wanted to go through the open gate, through the big goal, I did not want to be asked by anyone in the world to sign my own resignation, and I did a great job."

Apart from himself, Hoeneß also praised Oliver Kahn, who - as the club officially confirmed on Friday - will become the new CEO in early 2022. He recommended the publicly much-criticized sports director Hasan Salihamidzic to look less frequently on the internet so that he would not be so in reports about him should be much upset and explained generously, should those responsible at Bayern seek his advice, be invited to him on Tegernsee warmly for coffee, cake and Rostbratwürsten.

Hoeness was back to himself and still contradicted the comments of Supervisory Board Edmund Stoiber on Wednesday, even "disputes with Karl -Heinz Rummenigge" would have moved him to retreat. "No, Karl-Heinz and I have had different views and healthy discussions during the last ten years, where it also got louder in the room." But controversial culture is one of them.

Andreas Gebert / REUTERS

Departure with picture frame

But how distanced the relationship between the two really is, that hinted at the very end, as Rummenigge to the surprise of Hoeness as a surprise guest on the podium came. With it the chief executive had a large picture frame, in it some old black and white photos of the two, in addition an old Bayern jersey with Rummenigges back number 11. So that Hoeneß never forget him.

Rummenigge mentioned how he came to Bavaria exactly 45 years ago and immediately shared the room with Hoeneß, as they have since become companions. With such a common history, and then on such an occasion as the farewell press conference, it would be conceivable that the two hug each other vigorously. But Hoeneß and Rummenigge shook hands with each other, shortly thereafter there was a hug, a very tight one.

Then Hoeneß grabbed the frame and left the room. Through a small door. Not through the big gate. But he is not gone yet.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2019-08-30

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