With Kasper, the board around you and sports director Max Eberl is now complete again. You extended your contract as CEO last year. Herbert Hainer was re-elected president. Head coach Vincent Kompany has also extended his contract with FC Bayern long-term. How great are your hopes that FC Bayern will now find consistency and continuity again at management level after the turbulent past years with many personnel changes?
I think we have already shown that in the last six months. Things have become significantly quieter at FC Bayern – in a positive sense. We worked continuously on our tasks without talking much about it in public. I have a very good feeling that not only has calm returned, but that we are also working sustainably on our challenges. And that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.
I would like him to play an important role for us
Jan-Christian Dreesen about Thomas Müller
Thomas Müller visited the stadium at the last home game before Christmas. And sat in the boardroom row with you and the other executives. How did you like this picture? And do you also want this to become more than just a snapshot in the future?
The symbolism of the image you are referring to only became apparent to me later when I saw the footage from the stadium. I really appreciate Thomas. He had called me before he came to the stadium. And then I spontaneously invited him to the VIP stand. I was really happy that he was there. And in the future I would very much like him to take on a role with us at some point – an important role. He still wants to play at the moment, he has said that several times. And that’s a good thing, because when you talk to him you still feel that fire to be on the pitch. He still has so much time ahead of him and he will always have a place with us at FC Bayern.
How did you end up with him now? Have you agreed to talk more specifically about this in due course?
Thomas now has a new season ahead of him in Vancouver and, after losing the final with the Whitecaps against Inter Miami, another big challenge. He knows the importance he has for FC Bayern and he also knows that our doors are always open for him. He’s taking the time for himself now and that’s totally fine.
When we talk about the current and future leadership of FC Bayern, we also have to talk about Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who now sit on the supervisory board. How important are they both as direct contacts for you and the entire club management?
The word “council” is already in the name supervisory board. Both Uli and Karl-Heinz support us, the board, and me personally with advice – from very different constellations.
Karl-Heinz himself shaped the role that I take on today over many, many years. For that reason alone, he is extremely knowledgeable, and he also has a very large international network. And Uli stands like no other for FC Bayern as a doer and driver. I would almost say that FC Bayern without Uli, without both of them, that’s very difficult to imagine. So any advice is welcome.
Do you sometimes think that the final at home in the Champions League in Munich last year perhaps just came a year too early?
Of course, I would have really wanted us to make it to this final. Maybe it was too early. But we will have another final at home at some point and then we will make a new attempt.
It can be heard that this may not have to be that far in the future and that there could be the possibility of a Champions League final in Munich again as early as 2028. How concrete are your thoughts and your efforts?
The city of Munich must submit an official application to UEFA by June 2026. We are currently the only applicant. In September 2026, the Uefa Executive Committee will make a decision as to where the final will take place. Of course we’re trying to do that, that’s clear. With the Allianz Arena we have the perfect infrastructure for such a big final, UEFA also knows that.