Jürgen Klinsmann calls Bayern Munich transfer politics ‘sensible’, speaks on Nick Woltemade deal | OneFootball

His time in charge of Bundesliga record champions Bayern Munich certainly wasn’t the most successful highlight of former Bundestrainer Jürgen Klinsmann’s career. Klinsmann didn’t last a single-season with the German giants. One reason for Klinsmann’s short tenure reminds one slightly of Bayern’s current posture in the summer transfer market.

Naturally, things were very different back then. Klinsmann took over a team that had been playing in the Europa League the year prior to his appointment. Bayern were a dominant force had still captured five titles ahead of the 2008/09 campaign in the 2000s, but were hardly the total dominant force they are today.

A historic three consecutive tittles between 1999 and 2001 once left Germans concerned that Bayern’s dominance was getting out of control. Such thoughts seem quaint after Bayern managed to capture 11 consecutive titles between 2013 and 2023.

In any event, Bayern spent no money on new players during the summer of 2008. German internationals Tim Borowski and Hans Jörg Butt were acquired on frees. Massimo Oddo arrived on loan. In January, a loan deal for USMNT international Landon Donovan was the only transaction.

Once again, times are very different. Bayern may be aiming to close out the current transfer window with low cost loan deals, but have shelled out €75m to acquire Liverpool’s Luis Diaz this summer. Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof have also been procured on frees.

The fact that Bayern are opting for youth this year also isn’t necessarily a poor strategy either. One shouldn’t forget that a 19-year-old Thomas Müller made his debut under Klinsmann that year. A 19-year-old Toni Kroos also made his Champions League debut under Klinsmann’s aegis.

Klinsmann opted to speak out in favor of Bayern’s current strategy in an interview with transfermarkt.de. The now 61-year-old also fielded questions about the summer transfer saga between two of the clubs he spent a great deal of time playing for, Bayern and Stuttgart.

“I think what FC Bayern has done is very sensible,” Klinsmann said. “It has created a lot of space for new opportunities and options. I think it’s great that [UIi Hoeneß and Max Eberl] are discussing matters and don’t feel compelled to immediately pay high transfer fees. Everyone involved wants what’s best for Bayern.”

“That was a club decision that had to be accepted,” Klinsmann said of the FCB frugality during his time in charge. “If they say there’s no money and they can’t be active, one has to accept that. It was still a great adventure that I wouldn’t trade for the world. There were one or two heated discussions, but always with the frankness and honestly of a world-class club.“

“Of course, Stuttgart had a right to say no,” Klinsmann said of the Bayern-Stuttgart Woltemade saga that ended with Stuttgart rejecting a bid in excess of €60m.  “It surprised me because I thought: it’s a lottery win for everyone involved when such a sum is placed on a young guy who has great prospects, but still has to prove himself. Even at half that amount, I assumed the deal would go through.

GGFN | Peter Weis