Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) finally lifted the trophy. It was a victory achieved by throwing his whole body into it.
Bayern Munich won 2-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 33rd round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga held at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on the 11th (Korean time), thanks to consecutive goals from Harry Kane and Michael Olise.
Having already secured the league title in the previous round, Bayern adorned the last home game of the season with a victory and prepared for the official ceremony.
The first person to lift the trophy was Bayern legend Thomas Müller. Manuel Neuer handed over the championship trophy for him, as he will leave the team due to contract expiration this summer, and the crowd responded with cheers. During the subsequent ceremony, Kim Min-jae hesitated for a moment. He was absent from the match as part of injury management but was an indispensable member of the team's victory. His teammates recognized this.
Eric Dier and Müller pushed him from behind, while Harry Kane grabbed his arm. Kim Min-jae initially waved his hands in refusal, but ultimately, he was nudged to the front of the podium. Müller placed a hand on his shoulder, and Kim Min-jae pretended to lift the trophy, pausing for a moment before raising the championship trophy high with a bright smile. His shy and awkward gesture was welcomed by the cheers from his teammates.
This victory is particularly special for Kim Min-jae. After experiencing the Serie A championship with SSC Napoli in the 2022-2023 season, he did not win any titles last season after transferring to Bayern. This season, he finally reached the pinnacle of the Bundesliga, becoming the first Korean player to win twice in the top five European leagues.
The shadow of glory was long. He has been playing with Achilles tendon pain since last October. Amidst injuries that left the defense line in shambles, manager Vincent Kompany demanded constant appearances from Kim Min-jae, who took painkillers before every match. The European Professional Footballers Association (FIFPro) even issued an official statement saying, "Kim Min-jae has a record of appearances close to overwork levels."
Kim Min-jae participated in a total of 43 matches this season, logging 2,289 minutes in the league, the second-largest record on the team. Over the entire season, this amounts to 3,593 minutes (43 matches).
However, controversy erupted after the championship was confirmed. Bayern omitted Kim Min-jae from the trophy celebration video thumbnail and poster, and fans immediately protested. Criticism arose along the lines of, "You make him play so much, but you don't even include him in the thumbnail," leading to allegations of racism. Ultimately, the club posted a photo of Kim Min-jae in a ceremonial flower carriage on their official account, thanking him for "2,289 minutes of dedication," but the controversy did not easily subside.
Fortunately, at the ceremony, everything returned to its rightful place. The players brought Kim Min-jae to the center of the stage and had him lift the trophy. They took photos with him and shared in the joy of victory. Particularly, Müller, who is leaving the team, stayed close to Kim Min-jae throughout. He was there until Kim Min-jae came off the field and took photos with the trophy.
Bayern's victory this time marks the 33rd Bundesliga title (34th if including the 1932 German Championship). After being overshadowed by Bayer 04 Leverkusen's 'invincible championship' last season, Bayern reclaimed the league trophy after a year. Manager Kompany announced that Kim Min-jae would be excluded from the remaining schedule and would focus on recovery ahead of next month's FIFA Club World Cup.
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