I wanted no one to tell me when to leave - outgoing Bayern Munich president Hoeness

Record ID: 1429469

  • Title: I wanted no one to tell me when to leave - outgoing Bayern Munich president Hoeness
  • Date: 30th August 2019
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (AUGUST 30, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BAYERN MUNICH PRESIDENT ULI HOENESS ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AT MUNICH'S ALLIANZ ARENA MODERATOR SAYING I WILL START WITH THE QUESTION YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ASKED: MR. HOENESS, WHAT ARE THE DECISIONS FOR THIS DECISION? (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH PRESIDENT, ULI HOENESS, SAYING: "This is a decision that was not reached at short notice and which grew over a relatively long period of time. Over the course of last year I started thinking about it." HOENESS LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH PRESIDENT, ULI HOENESS, SAYING: "There are so many politicians and business leaders in recent years who were very successful and then they were slaughtered. I wanted to leave through the open door, the big door. I wanted to decide for myself. I wanted no one in the world to tell me to sign my resignation letter on the lower right. In my view, I did this in a fantastic way." HOENESS SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH PRESIDENT, ULI HOENESS, SAYING: "I always wanted to leave with the club in a superb state. That was achieved. The figures last season (with a turnover of over 650 million euros ($724 million) in 2017/18) were the best in the history of Bayern. That was always very important to me." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH PRESIDENT, ULI HOENESS, SAYING (on HERBERT HAINER): "After I had many discussions with Herbert Hainer and I always sensed that he would like to have this position - and he was once asked to become German FA president - I had to hurry up and make sure that nothing got in between because I believe Herbert Hainer is a man who is absolutely perfect for this position. He is a man of sports, he knows a lot about sports." HOENESS LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH PRESIDENT, ULI HOENESS, SAYING (on OLIVER KAHN): "If you speak to someone like Franck Ribery, Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski or Leroy Sane then it's good that they believe you that you know how to stop a ball. That's why I believe this is one important precondition. But someone without a brain would not be of any use just because he knows how to stop a ball. Oliver beautifully combines these assets."
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2019 13:32
  • Keywords: Bayern Munich Uli Hoeness retires retirement president
  • Location: MUNICH & BAD WIESSEE, GERMANY
  • City: MUNICH & BAD WIESSEE, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AUESEV3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: German champions Bayern Munich announced a changing of the guard on Friday with former captain Oliver Kahn returning as a board member next year and as CEO in 2022 while longtime president Uli Hoeness confirmed his departure.
    Hoeness announced his retirement after almost half a century at the club as a player, general director and president on the same day the Bavarians appointed another successful former player to succeed current CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
    Kahn, nicknamed 'the Titan' who won eight league titles between 1994 and 2008 with the Bavarians, signed a five-year contract after the board voted unanimously in favour of the move in Thursday's meeting.
    "It is a great honour to initially become a member of the board and then take over the chairman role at Bayern Munich," the 50-year-old Kahn, a former Germany goalkeeper and captain, said in a statement.
    "I am deeply linked with the club that has marked my life considerably."
    When Rummenigge's contract expires on Dec. 31, 2021, Kahn will take over from him as chairman and CEO.
    Hoeness, whose reputation was severely tarnished when he was convicted and imprisoned for tax evasion in 2014, has proposed former Adidas chief Herbert Hainer as his successor at the helm of Germany's biggest and most successful club.
    Rummenigge had joined Bayern as a player in 1974, enjoying a hugely successful decade, and became the club's vice-president from 1991 to 2002 before taking over his current role.
    (Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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