Despite protests, most Bayern fans back Boateng’s return | OneFootball

The possible return of Jérôme Boateng to FC Bayern continues to spark heated debate. While the active fan scene and numerous supporters reject his planned internship at Säbener Straße, a recent survey shows: The majority of Bayern fans are open to the idea.

During the Bundesliga home match against Borussia Dortmund last Saturday, parts of the fan curve made their displeasure over the possible return of the former central defender unmistakably clear. During the match at the Allianz Arena, a large banner was displayed with the message: “Those who give space to the perpetrator share the blame – Get lost, Boateng!”

The controversy extended beyond the stadium: An online petition against the planned internship has now gathered more than 25,000 signatures. The consensus among many participants: A return of Boateng—in any form—would be incompatible with the club’s values.

Boateng Looks Forward to Internship – Kompany Opens the Door

Photo: IMAGO

Nevertheless, FC Bayern continues to keep the door open for the 37-year-old to begin his coaching career. Head coach Vincent Kompany had already expressed openness to Boateng’s internship, which sparked the entire discussion in the first place.

Boateng himself expressed optimism a few days ago: “I can intern at Bayern and I’m really looking forward to it. We just need to find the right time,” said the former national player, who made a total of 363 competitive appearances for the record champions between 2011 and 2021 and won, among other things, the 2020 treble with the club.

Boateng’s sporting perspective is clear: He wants to make the transition into coaching—and gain experience at his former club to do so.

Survey Shows Divided but Mostly Positive Sentiment

A recent FanQ survey, conducted between October 17 and 21, 2025, shows a nuanced but remarkable picture of opinion within the Bayern fan community.

When asked “Should Jérôme Boateng be allowed to intern at FC Bayern?”

This shows: Despite the loud protests in the stadium, a majority of FCB supporters are fundamentally positive about the internship—even though the topic remains polarizing.

The online survey, in which over 4,000 people participated according to FanQ, was conducted in cooperation with FCBinside, sport.de, absolutfussball.com, merkur.de, tz.de, and the Abendzeitung München.

The result underscores how emotionally charged the debate over Boateng’s return to Munich is. While some fans are keeping their distance, others see it as a second chance for a player who was one of the defining figures of Bayern’s successful years on the pitch.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.