No man is as synonymous with goals as striker Robert Lewandowski. In his eight years at FC Bayern Munich, the Pole won all the titles and grew into a world footballer and star.
There are iconic images that will remain of Robert Lewandowski as a striker at FC Bayern Munich: There is Pep Guardiola, whom he almost made him ponder. Guardiola simply clapped his hands over his head in amazement at Lewandowski’s goal threat. Then there’s the “4EVER GERD” t-shirt that Lewandowski wore to celebrate his Bundesliga goal record in Freiburg. And then there is also Lewandowski far away from the lawn, in fine twine with a bow tie. He is holding the World Footballer’s Cup in his hand – as the first player in the Bundesliga to do so.
Lewandowski: “My story at Bayern is over”
But the story that happened before the partnership ended will also remain: Robert Lewandowski and FC Bayern did not part on good terms despite all the records and many goals. The change was in the offing for weeks when the Pole said to the national team: “My history at Bayern is over. I can’t imagine another good partnership.” He lamented the lack of appreciation.
Despite the contract until 2023, he finally wanted to leave in the summer of 2022. “Something has gone out inside me. That’s something you can’t ignore,” he added in an interview for the Polish Internet portal “Onet.pl” – and built up even more pressure.
Kahn: “It’s all an economic question”
And the Bavarians? Like the CEO Oliver Kahn, they answered at the championship celebration to BR24 sports presenter Markus Othmer: “He’s fulfilling his contract. Basta!” At least until FC Barcelona raised enough money for the goalscorer. During the team presentation in the BR exclusive interview, Kahn put his earlier statements into perspective: “Of course it’s always an economic question: The offer that Barcelona made us now also gives us further opportunities for the future of FC Bayern. Continue to plan to keep our eyes peeled.”
A future without Robert Lewandowski. Instead with Sadio Mané, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraou, who the record champions have already signed. But they too have to get used to Bayern’s game first. Because Lewandowski leaves a gap.
No striker in the world stands for goals as much as the Pole in these years. He can now look back on a remarkable career. And if the star coach Pep Guardiola freaks out, then it’s definitely worth taking a closer look at this record man.
Robert Lewandowski or: a man and his trophies
Fooled Bayern with BVB – then moved to Munich
For a long time it was not necessarily clear that Lewandowski would have such a world career. As a teenager he had to leave the record champions Legia Warsaw, but then started at the age of 18 with the third division club Znicz Pruszków. Through this detour he then made it up – and in 2010 to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Where, however, there was no getting past Lucas Barrios for him.
From the second season, however, Lewandowski grabbed the Dortmund Sturm regular place, won the championship and the following year the double with BVB. He scored three goals in the 5-2 cup final against FCB. And then it happened, as so often happens when someone teases Bayern too often: They finally get the attacker, in Lewandowski’s case even free of charge because the Pole’s contract expired in 2014.
Three goals: Anyone who cheers against Bayern Munich often ends up there. Just like Robert Lewandowski.
Twice world footballer in Munich – Müller’s goal record broken
In Dortmund Lewandowski was a Bundesliga star, in Munich he then grew into a world star over the past eight years. With almost unbelievable record values - and also the two FIFA world footballer titles in 2020 and 2021. The striker was the first Bundesliga player ever to win this trophy.
And with the team? Lewandowski won all club titles – that alone in 2020/21 under Hansi Flick. So far, the Pole has won ten championship titles – eight with FC Bayern and two with Borussia Dortmund.
And then there are the records, records and more records. On September 22, 2015, an Oktoberfest day in Munich, Lewandowski became the first substitute to score five Bundesliga goals in a 5-1 win against Wolfsburg. In just three minutes and 22 seconds, he scored the fastest hat-trick in the league to date. The fastest pack of four (5:42 minutes) and five (8:59 minutes) followed. For once, Lewandowski did not play from the start after suffering an ankle problem.
Pep Guardiola no longer understands the world
It was these 8:59 minutes that made Pep Guardiola “crazy”. “I don’t understand. I’ve never experienced a situation like this, either as a coach or as a player. And I don’t think I’ll ever experience it again,” said Guardiola. “Football is crazy sometimes.”
So crazy that Lewandowski later surpassed the previously unattainable records of his FC Bayern centre-forward predecessor Gerd Müller. In 2020/21 he scored 41 goals this season, on the last matchday against Augsburg he managed the coup, because Müller had scored 40 goals in the 1971/72 season. When Lewandowski drew level in Freiburg earlier, he revealed a t-shirt that read “4EVER GERD” under his jersey.
In the entire calendar year 2021, the Pole scored 43 times, Müller 42 times in 1972. But he will not reach the record of 365 Bundesliga goals if he does not return to the Bundesliga. Gerd Müller, who died in August 2021, scored 365 Bundesliga goals in his career. Lewandowski leaves the Bundesliga after 312 goals.
8:59 minutes in September: Robert Lewandowski’s record.
Dessert before the main course at the Lewandowski home
Is this pronounced goal hunger due to the almost ascetic way of life? Robert’s wife Anna Lewandowska is a former karateka and has written eight books on nutrition, exercise and dieting. Lewandowski has completely changed his diet according to her plan: no gluten, no sugar, no cow’s milk products, no wheat.
But now there is dessert before the main course. “People find it strange that we eat the brownie before the fried chicken – but the dessert is digested faster, and I think that’s how digestion works most effectively,” Lewandowska once described to SZ-Magazin. “It is beneficial for the organism to eat it first.”
33 years old – and often good for 30 Bundesliga goals
The reward: Lewandowski is in top shape at the age of 33, also because, in addition to nutrition, he is also considered an uncanny and exemplary worker. “I know that I can still play at the top level with my body for years to come. I am like good wine and I hope to get even better”, said Lewandowski after being awarded the golden boot as Europe’s top scorer in 2021. He has already broken the 30-goal mark five times in the Bundesliga.
He was never the loudest, never the cabin clown, but his incredible goal hunger has always distinguished him. FCB now has to do without this. Of course, he is also the most accurate foreign Bundesliga goalscorer – more than 100 goals ahead of the former Munich and Bremen player Claudio Pizarro.
Lewandowski is only missing the big title with Poland
And FCB’s “Nine” now also holds the Bundesliga record for the most away goals: he broke Klaus Fischer’s old record (116) in December – against his former club Dortmund. In addition, almost a logical consequence of his goal threat, Lewandowski has scored against all Bundesliga clubs he has played against since moving to Bavaria.
In addition, Robert Lewandowski is also a record player and record goalscorer in his home country of Poland. With the national team he is missing a big success so far. But who knows what will follow this year when his new club, FC Barcelona, inspires him again.
Because at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Lewandowski scored his country in the playoffs against Sweden in the spring with a penalty goal. And now, in the group with Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico, progress seems to be in the cards.
Source: BR24 Sports
07/16/2022 – 2:55 p.m
