Created on 11-06-2008 at 00:00 AM
Bayern reserve team hopefuls Sandro Wagner and Matthias Schwarz (pictured) have both sealed moves to the German second division, where the U-23 players will seek the breakthrough into the full professional ranks.
As FCB junior team boss Werner Kern recently revealed in an fcbayern.de interview, Wagner will take his Bundesliga experience to relegated MSV Duisburg. The beanpole striker inked a two-year deal with the Zebras on Monday.
Raw diamond
“Sandro is a raw diamond. He brings plenty of quality and he can continue his development with us. He’s an exact fit to our new concept and requirements,“ commented MSV director of sport Bruno Hübner after securing the signature of the 1.94 m / 6 ft 4 in centre-forward.
As a result of a string of injuries to first-choice forwards, Wagner made four brief Bundesliga appearances for Munich at the start of the 2007-8 season, and also faced Os Belenenses in the UEFA Cup. He scored the second in Bayern’s 2-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart in the League Cup semi-final.
Fink delighted
However, he failed to match reserve coach Hermann Gerland’s expectations in the third division south and made only 13 appearances for the second team, failing to open his scoring account for the campaign.
By contrast, Schwarz was a regular in Gerland’s side, and made a total of 33 appearances as the reserves finished eighth in the section to secure a berth in next term’s new national third tier. The 20-year-old moves across Bavaria on a free transfer to FC Ingolstadt, where the head coach is former Bayern stalwart Thorsten Fink. “Matthias is a terrifically talented midfield all-rounder,“ commented Fink.
Koko off to Bieberer Berg
Fellow FCB reserve Michael Kokocinski’s departure had already been announced. The 23-year-old has also found a new club, signing a two-year deal with Kickers Offenbach, who will face the Reds’ reserves next term after relegation from the second division this season.