Experienced keeper Tom Starke is to join Bayern from Hoffenheim. The 31-year-old agreed terms with Germany's biggest club on Wednesday 16 May 2012 and has signed a three-year contract, keeping him in Munich until 30 June 2015.
“We're delighted Tom Starke will be joining us for the new season," commented FCB director of sport Christian Nerlinger, “he's an experienced Bundesliga professional who is calmness personified, and who perfectly fills the gap left by Jörg Butt’s retirement. We're looking forward to Tom being here."
“I'm looking forward to the huge challenge at Bayern," commented the 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) goalkeeper, “I think it's fantastic to be competing for trophies one more time in my career, and especially to be part of the Champions League action."
Following the contract signing formalities, fcbayern.de spoke to Tom for the first time.
fcbayern.de: Tom, welcome to Bayern. What are your first impressions?
Tom Starke: First of all, thanks for the warm welcome, which I've had from everyone here today. I felt very much at home straightaway, and I'm really impressed with what I've found here. We had an extremely good training facility in Hoffenheim, but what I'm seeing here is another level again.
How did you feel when the call came in from Christian Nerlinger?
This is the best club in Germany and one of the three best in the world. It's a great honour to be called by one of those clubs. I'm very proud, and I feel it's confirmation of my good performances in recent years.
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