Former FC Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeneß believes that the record champions are far ahead of their national competitors because they manage to keep their best players.
In an interview with FAZ, the FC Bayern patron stated that long-term success is impossible if the club constantly lets its stars go.
When asked if Bayern’s dominance, evidenced by 13 championship titles in the last 14 years, is detrimental to the Bundesliga and the club itself, he replied: «Absolutely not for FC Bayern, but yes for the league’s operation. The day will come when we stumble, but then the others must also be there.»
The 74-year-old elaborated: «Many clubs are very proud when they have made a big sale. I am not a friend of this buying and selling at all. We buy a player for FC Bayern. And we don’t want to think about where we will sell him even as we sign the contract.»
Hoeneß did not mention that Bayern is financially several steps ahead of its Bundesliga rivals, which makes retaining top players easier.
Uli Hoeneß on Toni Kroos: ‘And then he left’
Responding to the assertion that selling players profitably is a business model for many clubs, he said: «But if that is your business model, you cannot be successful in the long term. We are far ahead of the others in this regard. In all the years I’ve been here, very rarely has a player left whom we desperately wanted to keep.»
Hoeneß cited Michael Ballack, who moved to Chelsea on a free transfer in 2006, and Toni Kroos, who joined Real Madrid in 2014 after failed contract extension negotiations, as examples.
«But even then we had control,» Hoeneß clarified. «I once ran into Toni and told him: ‘Toni, you can earn 10 million Euros with us. But if you want to earn 10 million and one Euro, you have to go.’ And then he left.»
It was a similar situation with David Alaba. He departed for Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2021, following protracted contract negotiations with FCB officials, including Hoeneß’s infamous «piranha» remark about Alaba’s agent, Pini Zahavi. «He is the only player who still calls us on Christmas Eve,» said Hoeneß. «But I also told him: ‘This is our offer, and if you don’t accept it, you have to leave.’ It is very important to be able to say no sometimes.»