Robert Lewandowski's hunt for Gerd Müller's age-old record has the Bundesliga on the edge of its collective seat. The Pole needs just one more goal to match the 40-goal mark set by Der Bomber in the 1971/72 season. In an interview with the FCB club magazine "51", Bayern legends explain what makes Lewandowski so special - and why he can make history this season. In part five, it's Dieter Hoeneß. The former Germany international scored a total of 127 goals in 288 Bundesliga games during his playing career and was feared throughout Europe for his heading ability. Now he explains where Lewandowski's strengths lie.
Part 5: Dieter Hoeneß on the aeriel powerhouse Lewandowski
Dieter Hoeneß' most successful Bundesliga season in terms of goals was in 1981/82, when he scored 21 times for Bayern.
"I must honestly say that I actually thought that no one would come close to Gerd Müller's record. But if anyone can do it, it's Robert Lewandowski. There's basically nothing he can't do: He's two-footed, quick, has great technical ability, incredible instincts, terrific tackling ability and an irrepressible will. Lewandowski has no weaknesses, his range is exceptional. The complete striker."
Model athlete with perfect timing
"True to his model athlete's physique, he's also very strong in the air. It's all about body tension, take-off power, timing - and you might need courage as well, because you have to go where it hurts from time to time. In my case, I played in goal until I was an adult, so I had acquired a certain jumping ability. Then I got bored in goal and became a striker. Those who say that training with the header pendulum is old hat are not right in my eyes. In the beginning, I practised for half an hour before every training session."
"Later, at FC Bayern, the assistant coaches used to spend forever firing in crosses from left and right at Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and me, because practice makes perfect. Many make the mistake of jumping with both legs - but you don't get as high in the air doing that as you do with a one-legged push-off. When Lewandowski scored the third goal against VfB Stuttgart recently, he got up to 2.31 metres. That was a textbook header."
In part 4 of the series, Roy Makaay talks about efficiency and the art of scoring goals:
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