Even for a membership that has set profitable trophies because the very minimal expectation for decade, Bayern’s aspect across the flip of the millennium was particularly sturdy.
Owen Hargreaves walked right into a aspect that includes the likes of Oliver Kahn – who made the checklist of our biggest goalkeepers ever – and Stefan Effenberg when he made his debut for the membership in August 2000.
Bayern had simply been finalists and semi-finalists in back-to-back Champions League seasons, and would go on to win it on the finish of that season, in addition to wrapping up a 3rd successive Bundesliga title – solely the third time Bayern had accomplished that hat-trick at that time of their historical past.
Owen Hargreaves explains what it takes to dwell as much as Bayern Munich’s elite mentality
That made the Bayern coaching floor a probably intimidating place to be for a teenager like former England worldwide Hargreaves, who had joined Bayern’s academy on the age of 16.
Chatting with FourFourTwo about his early experiences working with the primary workforce, Hargreaves stated: “Neglect the video games – every single day in coaching was intense!
Oliver Kahn would let you understand about it in the event you tousled (Picture credit score: Alamy)
“The youthful lads can be examined on a regular basis: large tackles flying in, trash speak, bollockings…you needed to earn it with these guys.
“[Oliver] Kahn was an animal. He would have steam popping out of his ears in the event you ever f**ked up.”
Nonetheless, in the event you did handle to get the respect of these totemic figures, you’d get accepted into the fold.
Hargreaves defined: “Stefan [Effenberg] was sensible: a correct chief and inspirational character. He took care of me in video games.
Owen Hargreaves was a part of Bayern Munich’s Champions League profitable aspect in 2001 (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
“In the event you might present that you just deserved to be there and also you weren’t intimidated by it, they’d decide you again up and settle for you into the group.
“It was an intense environment as we had been anticipated to win each single recreation domestically and in Europe.
“Even after we did win, large characters – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness, who ran the membership – would nonetheless are available and say it wasn’t ok. Solely the very best was ok.
“It was elite and I grew to become a type of guys, by way of mentality. I demanded extra from the youthful gamers and new signings, like, ‘That is the extent; if you need my spot, then you definitely’d higher be ready to go to battle for it’.”
Owen Hargreaves was chatting with FourFourTwo on behalf of TNT Sports activities.
