2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season

With Ottmar Hitzfeld not available for another season, Bayern announced in December 2007 that they had signed former Bayern player and recent manager of the German national team Jürgen Klinsmann as head coach for the 2008–09 season. Oliver Kahn had, even before the 2007–08 season, announced that this would be his last season as a player. He was replaced by former reserve goalkeeper Michael Rensing, whose spot was taken by the newly signed Hans-Jörg Butt. Second reserve goalkeeper Bernd Dreher had also retired and was replaced by the amateur Thomas Kraft. Reserve strikers Jan Schlaudraff (to Hannover 96) and Sandro Wagner (to MSV Duisburg) left the club, but found no replacements. After being loaned out for two seasons, midfielder Julio dos Santos left the club for good. The only field player added to the squad was Tim Borowski, who came from Werder Bremen. All changes were made before UEFA Euro 2008. After the tournament, Bayern announced that they would make no further squad changes.[1]

Training for the 2008–09 season began on 30 June 2008. Several players were still on vacation due to Euro 2008, while Franck Ribéry was missing due to injury.[2] After a 45-minute in-training test against their own amateurs, the first official test was won at SV Lippstadt 7–1.[3][4] Further tests on 19 July in Nördlingen[5] and 20 July in Amberg[6] were won 8–0 and 11–1. The T-Home Supercup against Borussia Dortmund marked the first loss of the season (1–2).[7] After a goalless draw at 1. FC Köln on 26 July[8] Bayern travelled to Japan for a guestplay at Urawa Red Diamonds, beating the hosts 4–2.[9] On 5 August, Bayern hosted Internazionale in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup for the final test before the regular season, losing 1–0.[10]

On 8 August, Klinsmann announced that Mark van Bommel would succeed Oliver Kahn as captain.[11] Two days later, in the first cup match, third league club Rot-Weiß Erfurt provided unexpected difficulties for the Bayern as the club went to catch up on a Bayern lead three times, before having to concede to Bayern's fourth goal.[12] In the opening game of the Bundesliga season, Bayern hosted Hamburger SV. As Hamburg caught up from two goals behind, the game finished 2–2, leaving Hamburg yet unbeaten at the Allianz Arena.[13] After another draw at Dortmund, the succeeding week brought two squad changes for Munich, as Marcell Jansen left the club for Hamburg[14] while Massimo Oddo was loaned out from Milan.[15] The first league victory followed against Berlin, 4–1.

Victories at 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga and Steaua București in the Champions League were followed up with a 2–5 loss at home against rival Werder Bremen and another away at Hannover 96 (0–1) on 27 September. Three days later, Bayern were held to 1–1 draw at home by Lyon in Champions League group play.

On 4 October, Bayern drew level with VfL Bochum, despite leading 3–1 with just seven minutes left in regulation; goals in the 84th and 85th minutes, however, saw Marcel Koller's men leave the Allianz with a point.[16] A few days later, Bayern lost a friendly at FC Ingolstadt[17] but proceeded to win all other games in the month, including the Champions League home game against Fiorentina.[18]

After a victory at home against Arminia Bielefeld[19] Bayern drew level in the Champions League at Fiorentina on 1 November.[20] The following victory against Steaua București on 25 November qualified Bayern for the single elimination stage.[21] In the Bundesliga, away matches at Schalke 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach followed; while Bayern defeated rival Schalke,[22] the club drew at Mönchengladbach, for the third time this season not winning against them, despite having led by two goals.[23] The games at home against Energie Cottbus[24] and away at Bayer Leverkusen were also won.[25]

On the 16th Bundesliga matchday, Bayern defeated Bundesliga leaders 1899 Hoffenheim, thus coming very close to the top of the standings.[26] The final match of the Champions League group stage was also won at Lyon, completing Bayern's best performance in the group stage.[27] A draw at VfB Stuttgart was Bayern's final game before the winter break.[28] Coincidentally Stuttgart was also Bayern's first opponent after the break. While Bayern won this cup game 5–1 away, the first league match was lost at Hamburger SV, 0–1.[29][30]

After winning at home against Borussia Dortmund,[31] Bayern lost their next two games at Hertha BSC,[32] that thereby took the lead in the league, and at home against newly promoted 1. FC Köln.[33] A 5–0 victory in the Champions League at Sporting CP was the final game of the month.[34]

After a draw in the league at Werder Bremen, Bayern was eliminated from the DFB-Pokal by Bayer Leverkusen.[35][36] Munich won all other games in the month, including a 7–1 in the second leg against Sporting CP, thus achieving a record aggregate of 12–1.[37]

After 5–1 defeat in the league at VfL Wolfsburg,[38] a direct rival for the championship, Bayern suffered another severe loss (4–0) at the hands of Barcelona.[39] Bayern held Barcelona to a draw in the second leg a week later but was eliminated from the competition nevertheless.[40] In the Bundesliga, Munich managed to win against underdogs Eintracht Frankfurt and Arminia Bielefeld, but a home defeat at the hands of Schalke 04 led to the dismissal of coach Jürgen Klinsmann. The club appointed Jupp Heynckes as caretaker coach and Hermann Gerland as assistant caretaker coach.[41]

Bayern won its first three games under Heynckes as coach, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach, Energie Cottbus and Bayer Leverkusen. A draw at 1899 Hoffenheim led to a delicate situation before the last game, where second-place Bayern hosted third-place VfB Stuttgart. While the winner of the match would be qualified for the Champions League, and even win the championship if VfL Wolfsburg lost, the loser would likely fall to fourth position, outside of the Champions League spots.[42] As fourth-place Hertha BSC lost and Wolfsburg won, the game eventually just decided that Bayern would go to the Champions League directly while Stuttgart would go to the qualification. The season concluded with four friendly games at Kaufbeuren, Eichstätt, 1. FC Magdeburg, and Fortuna Sittard, all won by Munich.

The League Cup was not held this season.[47] Instead Bayern and Dortmund played out the unofficial T-Home-Supercup with Bayern losing 1–2.

23 July 2008

Borussia Dortmund	2–1	Bayern Munich
Błaszczykowski  29' Hajnal  33'	(Report)	Ekici  73'

Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund

Attendance: 47,100

Referee: Thorsten Kinhöfer (Herne)

Bayer invited Internazionale for the Franz Beckenbauer Cup 2009, but lost 0–1 to the guests from Italy.

5 August 2008

Bayern Munich	0–1	Internazionale
	(Report)	Mancini  51' Maicon

Allianz Arena, Munich

Attendance: 64,000

Referee: Felix Brych (Munich)

These stats are as 25 May 2009, the final day of the 2008–09 Bundesliga season.

N	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Since	App	Goals	Ends	Transfer fee	Notes
1	GK		Michael Rensing	25	EU	2003	49	0	2010	Youth system
22	GK		Hans-Jörg Butt	34	EU	2008	8	0	2010	Free
35	GK		Thomas Kraft	20	EU	2006	0	0	2011	Youth system
3	DF		Lúcio (VC)	31	Non-EU	2004	144	7	2010	€12m
5	DF		Daniel Van Buyten	31	EU	2006	68	7	2010	€8M
6	DF		Martín Demichelis (VC)	28	Non-EU	2003	147	11	2012	€5M
21	DF		Philipp Lahm	25	EU	2005	104	4	2012	Loan return
23	DF		Massimo Oddo	32	EU	2008	18	0	2009	Loaned
30	DF		Christian Lell	24	EU	2003	65	1	2011	Youth system
33	DF		Breno	19	Non-EU	2008	5	0	2012	€12M
7	MF		Franck Ribéry	26	EU	2007	53	20	2011	€25M
8	MF		Hamit Altıntop	26	EU	2007	34	5	2010	Free
15	MF		Zé Roberto	34	EU	2007	169	14	2009	€9.5M
16	MF		Andreas Ottl	24	EU	2005	73	5	2011	Youth system
17	MF		Mark van Bommel (captain)	32	EU	2006	85	10	2009	€6M
20	MF		José Sosa	23	Non-EU	2007	32	2	2011	€6M
24	MF		Tim Borowski	29	EU	2008	26	5	2011	Free
31	MF		Bastian Schweinsteiger	24	EU	2002	184	20	2012	Youth system
9	FW		Luca Toni	31	EU	2007	56	38	2011	€11M
11	FW		Lukas Podolski	23	EU	2006	72	15	2010	€10M
18	FW		Miroslav Klose	30	EU	2007	53	20	2011	€14M
25	FW		Thomas Müller	19	EU	2008	4	0	2011	Youth system

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Moving from	Type	Transfer window	Ends	Transfer fee	Source
24	MF		Tim Borowski	29	EU	Werder Bremen	End of contract	Summer	2011	Free
13	FW		Landon Donovan	27	Non-EU	LA Galaxy	Loaned	Winter	2009	Free

Total spending: €0.0 million

N	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Moving to	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
1	GK		Oliver Kahn	39	EU		Career end	Summer	n/a
29	GK		Bernd Dreher	42	EU		Career end	Summer	n/a
2	DF		Willy Sagnol	32	EU		Career end	Summer	n/a
23	DF		Marcell Jansen	23	EU	Hamburger SV	Transfer	Summer	€8M
	MF		Julio dos Santos	26	Non-EU	Atlético Paranaense	Transfer	Summer	Free
19	FW		Jan Schlaudraff	25	EU	Hannover 96	Transfer	Summer	€2M
34	FW		Sandro Wagner	21	EU	MSV Duisburg	Transfer	Summer	Free
32	DF		Georg Niedermeier	23	EU	VfB Stuttgart	Loaned out	Winter	€0.1M
39	MF		Toni Kroos	18	EU	Bayer Leverkusen	Loaned out	Winter	Free
13	FW		Landon Donovan	27	Non-EU	LA Galaxy	Loan return	Winter	n/a

EU = if holds or not a European Union passport; Country: when 2 flags, 1st flag = country that plays for internationally, 2nd flag = country of birth; N = number on jersey; P = Position (for position name, pause mouse pointer on abbreviation); Name = Name on jersey (for more extensive name, pause mouse pointer on name); Age = age on the day of the signing; Moving from = only indicate the club the player was playing before start playing for this club in this season, for the type of the moving see Status column; Moving to = only indicates the club the player is going to play next, for the type of the moving see Status column; Ends = when the player's current contract ends; n/a = Not applicable.

Total income: €10,100,000

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Bundesliga		Champions League		DFB-Pokal
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Michael Rensing	37	0	26	0	7	0	4	0
22	GK		Hans-Jörg Butt	11	0	8	0	3	0	0	0
35	GK		Thomas Kraft	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	DF		Lúcio (vice-captain)	44	2	32	1	8	0	4	1
5	DF		Daniel Van Buyten	25	4	18	3	5	1	2	0
6	DF		Martín Demichelis (vice-captain)	40	4	29	4	8	0	3	0
21	DF		Philipp Lahm	39	4	28	3	8	0	3	1
23	DF		Massimo Oddo	27	0	18	0	7	0	2	0
30	DF		Christian Lell	28	0	20	0	6	0	2	0
33	DF		Breno	8	0	4	0	4	0	0	0
7	MF		Franck Ribéry	36	14	25	9	8	4	3	1
8	MF		Hamit Altıntop	16	2	10	2	3	0	3	0
15	MF		Zé Roberto	42	7	29	4	9	2	4	1
16	MF		Andreas Ottl	28	0	20	0	4	0	4	0
17	MF		Mark van Bommel (captain)	41	3	29	2	9	1	3	0
20	MF		José Sosa	20	2	17	2	2	0	1	0
24	MF		Tim Borowski	32	7	23	5	7	1	2	1
31	MF		Bastian Schweinsteiger	44	9	31	5	9	2	4	2
9	FW		Luca Toni	35	18	25	14	8	3	2	1
11	FW		Lukas Podolski	31	9	24	6	4	2	3	1
18	FW		Miroslav Klose	37	20	25	10	8	7	4	3
25	FW		Thomas Müller	5	1	4	0	1	1	0	0
Players sold/retired after the start of the season:
2	DF		Willy Sagnol	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	DF		Marcell Jansen	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
32	DF		Georg Niedermeier	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
39	MF		Toni Kroos	8	1	6	0	1	0	1	1
13	FW		Landon Donovan (on loan from January to March 2009)	7	0	6	0	0	0	1	0

As of 25 May 2009[48]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  GER Thomas Kraft 2 DF  GER Timo Heinze 3 DF  GER Oliver Stierle 4 DF  GER Georg Niedermeier (joined VfB Stuttgart in January) 5 DF  GHA Christian Saba 6 DF  GER Holger Badstuber 7 MF  TUR Mehmet Ekici 8 MF  GER Stephan Fürstner 9 FW  GER Vitus Nagorny (joined VfR Aalen in January) 10 FW  TUR Deniz Yılmaz 11 MF  GER Manuel Duhnke 12 DF  GER Marco Höferth 13 MF  GER Tom Schütz 14 MF  GER Maximilian Haas 15 DF  GER Björn Kopplin

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 FW  GER Dominik Rohracker 17 MF  GER Viktor Bopp 18 GK  GER Max Grün 19 DF  GER Alexander Benede 20 MF  GER Stefan Rieß 21 MF  GER Thomas Müller 22 MF  GER Marco Stier 23 FW  AUT Daniel Sikorski 24 DF  GER Stefan Schürf 25 GK  GER Maximilian Riedmüller 28 DF  GER Mario Erb 30 DF  GER Diego Contento 35 FW  GER Yannick Kakoko 39 MF  GER Toni Kroos (joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan in January)