Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) raised the 'Meisterschale (Bundesliga championship trophy)' high in front of thousands of fans.
Bayern held a championship celebration for the 2024-2025 season on the 18th (Korean time) at Marienplatz in Munich, Germany. The men's and women's teams, who were crowned champions together, took turns raising the trophy from the balcony of the Munich City Hall, enjoying the festival.
Bayern confirmed the early championship by winning 2-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach on the 5th, securing the Bundesliga title with two games remaining. This is the club's 33rd Bundesliga championship achieved right after the appointment of manager Vincent Kompany.
Kim Min-jae also added his first Bundesliga title to his career. In his second year at Bayern, he became the first Korean player to conquer two of Europe’s top five leagues. Kim Min-jae previously rose to the top of Serie A with Napoli in the 2022-2023 season.
Bayern has reclaimed the Meisterschale after two years. Last season, Bayern finished third in the Bundesliga under manager Thomas Tuchel. Bayer Leverkusen, managed by Xabi Alonso, achieved the Bundesliga's first unbeaten championship, while Stuttgart gained momentum in the late stages to pull Bayern down to third.
This season under manager Kompany was different. He introduced attacking football to Bayern and aimed to improve the team's structure. From the beginning, they surged to the top with strong offensive capabilities. Although they stumbled in the second half due to injuries to key players and the Champions League schedule, the early confirmation of victory was aided by the slip of second-place Leverkusen.
On that day, Bayern players celebrated their victory with fans on the streets. As the host called out names, players came out one by one to the balcony to raise the trophy. Starting with 'one-club man' Thomas Müller, who is leaving the team at the end of the season, Harry Kane and Manuel Neuer, as well as Dayot Upamecano, made appearances.
Kim Min-jae did not miss the event. Dressed in traditional German attire, he appeared after Alphonso Davies, waving his hands in greeting. He then raised the Meisterschale handed to him by Davies.
Kim Min-jae is one of the key players in Bayern's victory this season. He played in 43 matches across all competitions and logged 3,593 minutes, with 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This is the second most playing time at Bayern, following Joshua Kimmich.
Kim Min-jae's contribution was significant in making Kompany's attacking football possible. He covered wide spaces in defense while pairing with Upamecano. Thanks to the two alternating to stabilize the defense, Bayern was able to push the defensive line close to the midfield while pressuring the opponents.
Since October of last year, Kim Min-jae has been battling an Achilles tendon injury while continuing to play. He started every match in the first half of the season without a break until he was finally stopped by injury. However, he could not rest properly due to the injuries of his teammates and played while taking painkillers. He became a 'symbol of overwork,' raising concerns from the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro).
As the intense schedule continued, mistakes began to occur more frequently. Kim Min-jae skipped the March A-match to recuperate due to his Achilles tendon issue but did not get a break. As Hiroki Ito returned, a metatarsal fracture recurred, and with Upamecano also going under the knife, he grit his teeth and continued to play. As a result, he faced significant criticism for mistakes that led to goals in matches against Dortmund and Inter Milan.
Ultimately, Kim Min-jae's future for the next season is uncertain. Bayern plans to sell him if a suitable offer comes in and rebuild the defense. German outlet 'TZ' reported, "Bayern is set to part ways with Kim Min-jae. He is viewed as a potential selling candidate at the club," adding, "When Bayern signed Kim Min-jae for €50 million (about 78.3 billion won) two years ago, they hoped for much more."
Specific transfer fees have also been mentioned. According to Christian Falk from 'Bild,' Bayern expects to collect around €30 million (about 46.9 billion won) to €35 million (about 54.8 billion won) from the sale of Kim Min-jae. This is a significant drop from the initially expected amount.
Kim Min-jae, who had consistently expressed his intention to stay at Bayern, seems to have changed his mind. He has decided to seek a new challenge if the conditions are right. Falk noted, "Kim Min-jae is one of the candidates for release this summer. He himself is not reluctant to leave the team if he receives an attractive offer. He has deeply felt the criticism regarding his performance in Munich."
Bayern has already identified a replacement for Kim Min-jae. The candidate is Jonathan Tah, a towering center-back at 195 cm. Falk stated, "Bayern is in the lead for the signing of Tah and has a very high chance of completing the transfer. Considering the club's desire to sell Kim Min-jae this summer, Tah could be the ideal successor. He could also solve the defensive injury problems."
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), AT World News, Bayern Munich social media.
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