Bayern have successfully completed their search for a new back-up goalkeeper after Benfica shot-stopper Hans-Jörg Butt agreed terms with the German double winners on Wednesday. The 34-year-old leaves the Portuguese top flight outfit on a free transfer after committing himself to Munich for two seasons until 30 June 2010.
“We’re very pleased with this transfer, as Hans-Jörg Butt’s international experience fits our requirements exactly,“ commented Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “We want Hans-Jörg Butt to support the development of our young goalkeeper Michael Rensing, and he’s looking forward to this task at Bayern Munich.“
Second free transfer
After just a single season in Portugal, Butt thus returns to the Bundesliga where he made 324 appearances for Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen between 1997 and 2007, also achieving the notable feat of 26 goals, all from the penalty spot. Butt has been capped three times by Germany and has a 2002 World Cup runners-up medal.
Butt’s move to Benfica last summer proved a grave disappointment, as he made just one appearance in a poor campaign which saw the Lisbon giants finish fourth. On Wednesday, the player and Benfica agreed on an immediate termination of his contract, originally not set to expire until 30 June 2009. Butt is the second confirmed summer arrival at FCB after Bremen midfielder Tim Borowski, with both players moving on free transfers.
Forty-nine European appearances
Butt contested the 2001-2 Champions League final with Bayer Leverkusen, memorably having a last-minute header cleared off the line as the Rhineland outfit narrowly fell 2-1 to Real Madrid. The keeper boasts significant international experience with a total of 49 European appearances (37 in the Champions League and 12 in the UEFA Cup).
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