For a long time, former Bayern professionals shaped the club like hardly any other institution in European soccer. Whether Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß or Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – they stood for an era in which identity, leadership and sporting competence went hand in hand. But today, ex-FCB players have little interest in such jobs. For Honorary President Uli Hoeneß, this is no coincidence, but a systemic problem.
Hoeneß explains in the OMR podcast that modern professionals play in a completely different financial league to when he was active. „Players who retire today after ten years, who have earned 15 million, have 60, 70 million on the bench,“ says the 73-year-old. The financial pressure has changed fundamentally: „They don’t have the pressure of having to work to maintain their family’s wealth. And that is the biggest problem.“
According to Hoeneß, this starting position means that many former stars have no interest in an intensive full-time role at the club – especially not in the management level, where daily presence and responsibility are non-negotiable.
Criticism of the younger generation: „Don’t want to work hard enough“
The honorary president also took the opportunity to criticize the young generation and the general attitude of young players. „We can already feel a general satisfaction here,“ he said. „That’s why we have a lot of young people who are no longer willing to work hard to become professional footballers. They all want to become professional footballers, but they don’t necessarily want to work hard for it.“
His message is clear: success is still only possible through „relentless hard work“ – a principle he knows from his own experience. After his career ended in 1979, Hoeneß threw himself into work, became Bayern manager and later founded his own sausage factory. It was clear to him: if you want to achieve something, you have to invest – time, energy and passion.
Schweinsteiger turned Bayern down
Particularly interesting: according to Hoeneß, Bayern legend Bastian Schweinsteiger also turned down an engagement with the record champions after his active career. The 2024 World Cup winner was supposed to become team coach. Hoeneß says: „But do I have to be there every day?“ Schweinsteiger asked. When Hoeneß confirmed this, the 2014 World Cup winner declined. It is an example of how difficult it has become to win over ex-professionals for work-intensive tasks.
Jan-Christian Dreesen is doing „a great job“ as CEO, Hoeneß emphasizes. But the 73-year-old continues to dream of a club legend taking on responsibility in a prominent position again at some point. However, economic and social changes are making it increasingly difficult to persuade former world stars to return to the day-to-day running of the club.
