The former Adidas boss Herbert Hainer has been officially elected as the new president at the annual general meeting of FC Bayern Munich. The 65-year-old is expected to follow club icon Uli Hoeness, who did not stand for re-election at the end of his term as announced. Hainer takes over 2022 next to the Office of the President and the post of Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Hoeneß himself has recommended Hainer as his successor, the new president is considered a close confidant of his predecessor. The relevant committee followed the proposal. There was no opponent.
Hainer was until 2016 CEO of sporting goods manufacturer Adidas. At that time, the Group had acquired shares in FC Bayern and extended the supplier and sponsor contract with the club. Read more about the club's new strongman here.
Earlier, Uli Hoeneß had said goodbye in an emotional speech from the members in the not completely filled Olympiahalle. For 20 minutes, the outgoing president told episodes and anecdotes, taking stock of 49 years as a player, manager and president at FC Bayern. The minutes of applause of the 6091 members, the 67-year-old had tears in the eyes.
In detail, Hoeneß did not comment on how he wanted to spend his future life without a leadership office at Bayern. He will definitely do "something in the social sphere".
"Social and self-confident - not arrogant"
According to Hoeness, FC Bayern must be "self-confident in the future, not arrogant." He campaigned to "be patient" with his successor Hainer and also Oliver Kahn, who is to replace the CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in two years. He called the club leadership to cohesion: "The opponents sit outside, they must not be at home."
The club he compared with a tanker on the oceans, but on board were "no container", but "people". On his way he had to go on and on "straight ahead", not looking to the left - "and certainly not to the right".
At the end of his speech Hoeneß was again celebrated by the present members with fanatics. Franck Ribéry - according to Hoeneß "the best proof that gratitude in our society is worth something" - came on stage and handed him farewell gifts. "It was a wonderful time," Hoeneß said: "That's it, I've finished, thank you."
