Kahn meets coronavirus challenge in first 100 days on Bayern board

Oliver Kahn will on Friday be 100 days in his new job as a member of the Bayern Munich board. The former Germany goalkeeper has been a fast learning curve as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Munich (dpa) – Oliver Kahn could hardly have imagined his first 100 days as member of the Bayern Munich board would turn out as they have.

Everything went according to plan when the former world-class goalkeeper rejoined Bayern on January 1 in a senior management role at the record German champions.

But with normal life disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, 50-year-old Kahn has sometimes felt he has been part of a disaster movie.

Kahn suddenly had to assume responsibility in what was a learning phase of his new appointment.

“Of course, I wasn’t prepared for this challenge in my new role at Bayern,” he said. “But I take on this task like all of us here to steer the club through this crisis.”

For Kahn and the Bayern management, the current priority is to minimize the economic impact of the pandemic on the club while European football is suspended, and still take innovative steps for the future.

In spite of all difficulties, Bayern’s former president Uli Hoeness, who had wanted Kahn back at the club, has has given his protege top marks for his start.

“It met all of my expectations 100 per cent. And I am very optimistic that it was the right decision to bring Oliver in. You can already see that,” he told Kicker sports magazine.

Kahn, who said that he had “already experienced a few crisis situations” in some post-playing career business ventures, was now needed for crisis management while the job learning process continued as planned.

Kahn is being groomed to replace Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as chairman on January 1, 2022 and he has been given time to get to know the club and understand how it has developed since his years between the Bayern posts from 1994 to 2008.

Kahn has taken time to talk to individual departments in a structured way to get an impression of the overall situation. The former captain has held back in public but has clear views on how the coronavirus crisis could affect football.

“Epochal experiences mean that we pause and reflect,” he told the Sport Bild weekly. There will be “life after this crisis” and “no one can now predict reliably how our lives and the football world” will be changed.

“Perhaps we will appreciate more what constitutes football at its core, namely fun, positive emotions and shared experiences and not hate, bullying and violence,” he said.

Kahn also sees the crisis as an opportunity. “If we can absorb such shocks, there is a great opportunity to emerge stronger from the crisis,” he said.

Football could see a more measured approach after “chronic overheating.” And in a message in the Bayern members’ fan magazine 51 he promised “that we will do everything to ensure that FC Bayern will give its fans pleasure again when the time comes – and of course also aim for titles again.”

New contracts for coach Hansi Flick and stalwart Thomas Mueller, both until 2023, showed how strongly Kahn has been involved in personnel planning. Kahn was able to announce both new deals alongside Rummenigge and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic.

The term of the contracts documented the consensus at the top at Bayern because the contracts will end when Kahn is set to be the boss.

The next key contract agreement could be with goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer. As a former goalkeeper, Kahn’s view will be crucial. Not only was he, like Neuer, Germany’s long-standing number 1, he also played until the age of almost 39. Should Neuer possibly extend his 2021 contract until 2025, he would also be 39.

“In general, as I have shown myself, goalkeepers can of course play until an advanced age. But then it is a big challenge to maintain a high level,” Kahn said.

The arrival in summer from Schalke of the designated successor in goal, Alexander Nuebel, is also a factor in any decisions.

Kahn and ex-Bayern player Salihamidzic, who will become a board member in the summer, have already praised each other for their ability to work together in a team. Salihamidzic has given his former team-mate the very best marks on a personal and professional level.

“We won the Champions League in the (Bayern) shirt and if possible we want to win the Champions League together wearing suits,” he said.