It was well past half past one o'clock in the morning, down in the almost empty Olympiahalle the brass band "14 Hoibe" sang a proper serenade, when Uli Hoeneß had one last appearance. A few floors up, in a small room next to the restaurant "Coubertin". The press conference after the annual general meeting was due, Hoeneß sat very tight-lipped, his eyes narrowed to slits, Hoeneß was angry.
This was followed by a remarkable 20 minutes in which Hoeness complained about what he had just experienced as chaos and Krakeeler, in which he addressed the guise of democracy, spoke of omissions and drove up heavy guns. 20 minutes, which was more notable than the bulk of the five-and-a-half-hour Annual General Meeting just before.
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Bayern Annual General Meeting: So ran the Hoeneß farewellThe performance made it clear that Hoeneß, of course, does not dream of suddenly giving up rest. Just because he may not be president anymore. And that, of course, it was a misconception that Hoeness would now retire quietly as a pensioner to his mountain farm high above the western shore of Lake Tegernsee. Hoeness was brushing again on riot and in familiar attack mode, a memorable ending to an emotional evening.
Homage to the President
Everything had begun very peaceful and maudlin, the members paid homage to Hoeneß right from the start with a standing ovation, the outgoing president then immediately made for involuntary comedy, as he thanked for the trust "since 1916". As if Hoeneß had steered the fate of the club for 103 years - or maybe it was even longer?
Hoeneß entertained the audience with humorous anecdotes, Hoeneß celebrated and had himself celebrated, he concluded with the words: "That's it, I've finished, thank you." Franck Ribéry appeared on stage, he pushed his foster father and mentor, to whom he later delivered a personal love message: "President, je t'aime". Then Ribéry hugged the President's wife Susi, it was time for tears again.
In the audience itself, great sentimentalism was just as contained as the rush in general. Because of the supposedly immense importance of the evening and an expected onslaught of the members, the club had moved the event extra in the big Olympic Hall, the officially 6091 visitors but probably just as well fit into the usual basketball arena. Of course, Hoeneß was celebrated, applauding his life's work and the merit for the Bavarians, but it all seemed much more controlled, far less exuberant than when he returned to presidency three years ago.
Relief in the Olympiahalle
One had the feeling that Hoeness was also applauded because he let it be now. Because he barely made the jump because everyone knew he would have done no favor with another term, not the club and not the members. The fact that Hoeness leaves was also a relief.
So ended the evening actually largely peaceful, even as then traditionally at the end of the speeches of the members were pending, the agenda item 9, which likes to stretch quite tough. A year ago, a member with a violent broadside against Hoeneß caused a big scandal, it was the moment that made Hoeneß think about how long he would like to do this. This time it was half as wild, yes, there was criticism: at the gray seats in the arena, at the economic relations of the club with the sponsor from Qatar, to Hasan Salihamidzic. Everything but in the frame.
Ulmer / imago images
Not so for Uli Hoeness, who later suddenly got a lot of power at the press session and muttered "the old chaos" in the comments: "I was on the verge of going on stage, it was a great event, until the interventions then let's get that from a couple of Krakeelern damage here under the guise of democracy and freedom of expression. " To add a little later: "If you are dissatisfied, then I call the people: Stay at home, but no one is forced to be a member of Bayern Munich."
But that an annual general meeting can be a forum for members to address critical issues and express dissatisfaction? That seemed to Hoeness differently.
Guardiola as a new coach in conversation
Next to Hoeness was Herbert Hainer, the newly-elected president, who at least made a pause when he answered a question about a possible return from Pep Guardiola as follows: "Of course he is a great coach, but has contract with Manchester City (until 2021, d Let's wait until the board comes up to us, then we will deal with all alternatives. " At least it did not sound like a clear denial.
Otherwise, the stage belonged to Hainer's predecessor, Hoeneß was once again in motion. Correct, for the medial spread of internals from the club control panel, for example, he threatened: "If someone says that something comes out of our supervisory board, then he gets the omission." At the end of the 20 minutes, Hoeneß summed up that his appointment book was empty and he wanted to reorient his life: "I will not force myself anywhere."
But of course he will continue to use every opportunity when it comes to defending his Bayern and attacking critics. Or Krakeeler. Or the members who should rather stay home.
That's just not it. Hoeneß is far from finished.
