A lesson for Bayern talent: return to Unterhaching as an educational measure | OneFootball

FC Bayern is taking action: young striker Gibson Adu will be loaned out to SpVgg Unterhaching again from January. As reported by tz, this is not a sporting decision, but an educational measure after several misdemeanors by the 17-year-old talent at the Bayern campus.

Adu already completed a training session with his former club’s youth team on Monday, with Bayern officials apparently wanting to send out a clear signal: discipline and attitude should count just as much as footballing talent in future.

Supporter Schwabl should get Adu back on track

photo: Getty Images

In Unterhaching, the young attacker will meet up with an old acquaintance – president Manni Schwabl, who has already put Adu on the right track in the past. The 59-year-old is seen as a kind of mentor and foster father for the attacking player.

Schwabl had brought the centre-forward to SpVgg in 2022 after he left 1. FSV Mainz 05. At the time, Adu was highly athletic but attracted attention due to his indiscipline. Schwabl took responsibility, even signed a guardianship and ensured that the then 14-year-old found a new environment in a host family in Unterhaching.

His clear message: talent alone is not enough – discipline, hard work and character are just as important. Minor punishments such as washing up in the club restaurant were part of the educational program at the time. The concept worked: Adu became the youngest player in 3rd division history.

Bayern signed – but still no breakthrough in Munich

In the summer of 2024, Adu moved to FC Bayern. Expectations were high for the then 17-year-old, but the striker has only made one brief appearance in the Bavarian regional league so far. A planned loan to Austrian first division club SCR Altach fell through shortly after it was concluded – due to a UEFA regulation that restricts the transfer of underage players.

Now the move back to Unterhaching should help Adu to regain his focus and continue his sporting and personal development in a familiar environment.