FC Bayern News: Oliver Kahn sees Michael Olise on the path to the Ballon d’Or

FC Bayern is having a strong season, which could lead to significant recognition for one of its stars, according to former executive Oliver Kahn. Here’s the latest news and rumors surrounding the club.

Former FC Bayern chairman Oliver Kahn believes Michael Olise has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or, recognizing him as the world’s best player. Olise was recently named best player of the Champions League quarter-finals, where Bayern advanced against Real Madrid. They will now face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

«Looking at his performances in recent weeks, Michael Olise is definitely on the path to the Ballon d’Or,» Kahn stated on ‘Triple – der Hagedorn-Fussballtalk’ with Sky Sport News. Alongside Olise, Bayern also boasts Harry Kane as another strong contender for the best player award. This season, no clear favorite for the Ballon d’Or has emerged yet.

Olise has recorded an impressive 18 goals and 29 assists in 43 competitive matches across all competitions for FC Bayern this season. The Munich club acquired him in the summer of 2024 from Crystal Palace for 53 million Euros.

FC Bayern News: Player Magdalena Eriksson scouts for the men’s team

Beyond her contributions on the field, FC Bayern Women’s player Magdalena Eriksson is also lending her expertise to the men’s team in a scouting capacity. The former Swedish national team defender is working part-time in the scouting department for the men’s squad, as revealed by the defender herself, whose contract with the Double-winning women’s team runs until 2028.

«Almost exactly a year ago, I received an email from an unknown club employee,» the 32-year-old shared during the Bayern vs. Real Madrid Champions League match with the Scandinavian broadcaster Viaplay. The contact was Head Scout Christoph Kresse, who inquired about her interest in working in scouting.

Eriksson is now engaged in this role for the men’s team, considering scouting female players would present a significant conflict of interest. She feels comfortable in her new responsibilities, which, contrary to what might be expected, focus on the «South American market» rather than Scandinavia.

Club Director Bianca Rech confirmed Eriksson’s involvement when contacted by SID. «It’s important to us and we encourage it when players actively think about their careers beyond their playing days,» she commented. «With this goal in mind, we also launched our ‘EmpowerHer’ mentoring program two years ago, connecting players with mentors from the business world.»

Rech emphasized that Eriksson is «a professional personality both on and off the field,» adding, «We’ve known for a long time how good Magda is tactically and at recognizing and analyzing players’ strengths. So, we are very pleased for her that she is acquiring additional knowledge here.»

Rech noted that «many other players at FC Bayern have taken a similar path in various areas,» citing examples such as Nina Aigner, Nicole Rolser, Kathleen Krüger, Jana Kappes, and Clara Schöne, «to name just a few.» (SID)

FC Bayern News: Club boss denies strained relationship between Max Eberl and Christoph Freund

FC Bayern Chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen has refuted reports suggesting a strained relationship between FCB Sporting Director Max Eberl and Sporting Coordinator Christoph Freund, which were published by kicker. The reports questioned whether the duo would continue to shape the club’s sporting direction together after 2027.

Before the Champions League match against Real Madrid, Dreesen commented, «Well, one shouldn’t read too much into everything that’s written. The fact is that the two are working well together, and you can see their joint success on the pitch – and that’s what matters.»

Bayern is currently leading the Bundesliga table by a significant margin, faces Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals next week, and has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

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