Eric Dier (31) is leaving the team, taking care of Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) until the last moment. He guided Kim Min-jae toward the trophy by grabbing his collar and pushing his back several times.

Bayern held their victory ceremony after defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 in the 33rd round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on the 11th (Korean time).

This season, Bayern achieved their 33rd Bundesliga title as soon as manager Vincent Kompany took the helm. Thanks to this, they reclaimed the Meisterschale, which they lost to Bayer Leverkusen, who went undefeated last season, after two years. Kim Min-jae also became the first Korean player to conquer two of the top five European leagues.

After the match, the celebration began in earnest. The Bayern players received their championship medals one by one. Kim Min-jae, who was excluded from the match to manage an injury, also wore the medal with a bright face.

The Bayern players all went up to the podium to conduct the long-awaited trophy presentation. Captain Manuel Neuer first handed the trophy to the 'legend' Thomas Müller, who is leaving the team at the end of this season. Müller raised the Meisterschale (the Bundesliga championship trophy) to the crowd amidst thunderous applause. Cheers erupted from the stands.

After that, Harry Kane lifted the trophy, reveling in his first championship win. Following him, Dier and Michael Olise, who also escaped from being trophy-less, raised the trophy high. During this process, Kim Min-jae and Serge Gnabry took the lead in pulling Dier forward as if to say, 'Next is your turn.'

Kim Min-jae was not absent from the trophy ceremony. He stepped back and watched, but his teammates hardly left him alone.

Dier especially marked Kim Min-jae closely. He literally grabbed Kim Min-jae's collar and urged him to move forward, making Kim Min-jae burst into laughter. As Kim Min-jae held his ground, Dier pushed him again, and Müller and Kane joined in to help.

Eventually, Kim Min-jae could no longer withstand it and stepped out to the front of the podium, holding the shield trophy. Although he was pushed out, the ceremony was perfect. After a brief gesture of hesitation, Kim Min-jae raised the trophy high and roared.

After the ceremony, Bayern players continued the celebration by pouring beer on each other. Kane was drenched from head to toe but had a happier expression than anyone else.

In contrast, Kim Min-jae remained dry until the end. Gnabry quietly approached with a large cup full of beer, but Kim Min-jae noticed him first and quickly escaped. Ultimately, he left the stadium without a single drop spilled on him.

Kim Min-jae has secured his fourth personal championship title. He has been at the top of the K League twice and has achieved Serie A victory during his time with Napoli, along with Bundesliga success. Kim Min-jae is the first Korean player to conquer two leagues among the top five in Europe.

This is especially meaningful as Kim Min-jae played a crucial role in Bayern's victory under Kompany's management. He participated in 43 matches across all competitions this season, playing 3,593 minutes, with 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This is the second most playing time at Bayern after Joshua Kimmich. After Dayot Upamecano went down in the second half, Kim Min-jae worked in tandem with Dier to defend Bayern's back line.

Dier and Kim Min-jae showed their friendship by looking out for each other during their last home game. They have already played their farewell match together. Dier will head to AS Monaco at the end of this season. The match against Mainz on the 27th of last month was the last game that both players played together.

Dier is leaving the team after a year and a half since he unexpectedly joined Bayern on loan from Tottenham last January. He performed his backup role excellently and even received a 2-year contract extension offer from Bayern. However, Dier decided to take on the challenge of the French stage for the first time by joining Monaco, which offered to extend the contract for three years.

In terms of playing time, Monaco was a good choice as well. According to German 'Kicker', Bayern stated they could not guarantee Dier consistent starting appearances. In the end, he chose Monaco, as the possibility of being a rotation player would be high if he stayed at Bayern. Since Monaco will also compete in the UEFA Champions League next season, it is possible that Dier will meet Bayern and Kim Min-jae as rivals.

Although no official announcement has been made yet, Dier has personally revealed his transfer to Monaco. He said, 'They were the club that had the best discussions with me and ultimately the club that put in the most effort to sign me. They really wanted me,' adding, 'I'm very grateful for the farewell from Bayern. I also appreciate the way the club treated me while I was here.'

[Photo] Bayern Munich, Bundesliga social media.

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