LONDON: There was a time when Bayern Munich would have been unimaginable without Oliver Kahn, their snarling, self-confident goalkeeper
Those days may soon be here again, as Kahn, now 49 and long retired, prepares to return to Bayern as chief executive officer from 2021.
Bayern’s current CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed on Sunday that he would not extend his contract beyond 2021 and that former club captain Kahn would replace him.
“The plan is that Olli Kahn will succeed me and that I will ease him into the role,” said Rummenigge.
“It makes sense: Olli is clever and he knows the club.”
Long rumoured to be in line for a leadership role at Bayern, Kahn is tailor-made for the CEO role.
In 14 years at the club, Kahn won eight Bundesliga titles, six German Cups and two European finals, and developed a reputation as a testosterone-fuelled hothead hell-bent on success.
Between 1994 and 2008, he terrorised teammates and opponents alike and became one of the most decorated players in the club’s history.
A career high came in the Champions League final against Valencia in 2001, when he saved penalties from Zlatko Zahovic, Amedeo Carboni and Mauricio Pellegrino to win the shootout for Bayern.
A year later, his brilliant performances led an unfancied Germany team to the World Cup final, only for his one error to cost Germany victory against Brazil.
