A look back: Tolisso's five title-winning years in Munich

When Corentin Tolisso was asked in July 2017 during his unveiling by the German record champions what had convinced him to make the move to Munich, he didn't have to think for long: "Bayern is a huge club that makes a lot of little boys dream" replied the then 22-year-old Frenchman, who most certainly had no idea at the time that from that point on he would be able to fulfil just about every dream of winning trophies a footballer could have.

Five trophy-filled years

Champions League winner, FIFA Club World Cup winner, UEFA Super Cup winner, five-time Bundesliga winner, two-time DFB Cup winner and four-time DFL Supercup winner - that will be the midfielder's impressive list of honours when he leaves FC Bayern this summer after his contract expires. In addition, Tolisso was part of the France team that won the UEFA Nations League in 2021 during his time in Munich, and he even became a World Cup winner with the Équipe Tricolore in 2018. But unfortunately, it was also part of Tolisso's history that his successful journey was continually marred by setbacks - and that perhaps his greatest triumph, the World Cup win, was followed by what was probably his most difficult time at FCB.

Midfield strategist and a real goal threat

At his previous club Olympique, Tolisso made a name for himself as an attack-minded midfielder (involved in 21 goals in the 2016/17 season) - and in Munich, he immediately picked up where he left off. In his first Bundesliga game against Leverkusen in August 2017, Torlisso [Goallisso]- his not entirely coincidental nickname - scored his maiden goal. By the end of the season, he had racked up ten goals and seven assists in 40 competitive league games, playing a major role in helping his team win the domestic championship, the first of his career. It was followed just a few weeks later by the World Cup triumph - but with it came a shortened pre-season and little time for regeneration before his second season with the record champions. In mid-September, FC Bayern's number 24 suffered a serious injury in the Bundesliga clash against Leverkusen, with the painful diagnosis of a torn cruciate ligament and outer meniscus in his right knee.

We monitored Corentin Tolisso during his rehab at the time:

251 days of suffering

"It was very hard for me to see my teammates on the pitch every day. It was hard, but at the same time my biggest motivation. I wanted to train with them again, fight and laugh alongside them," Tolisso later said about the long rehab that now awaited him. The France international had to fight his way back for a whole 251 days and his efforts were rewarded. Just before the DFB Cup final against Leipzig, Tolisso was pronounced fit to play again and celebrated his comeback on the big stage: "When the coach said 'Coco komm' I was surprised at first, but then, straight away, highly focused. It was a perfect moment for me," Tolisso reflected. Bayern won 3-0 and hoisted the DFB Cup for the 20th time in the club's history.

But even after his return, Tolisso was not untroubled by injuries. Time and again he had to fight his way back after setbacks, time and again he proved that he had lost none of his ability. One of the more recent examples was the Bundesliga match against 1. FC Köln at the beginning of the year, when the 27-year-old came back from a calf injury and a COVID infection, enjoyed a terrific game and even crowned his impressive performance with the FC Bayern Goal of the Month for January.

21 goals in 118 appearances

Tolisso made a total of 118 competitive appearances for FC Bayern, racking up 21 goals and 15 assists. It's futile to think about how many more there could have been had he not had such bad luck with injuries. Thanks to his versatility, Tolisso, who can play in midfield as a defensive or an attacking midfielder, or, even as a number ten was always on hand when he was needed. After just a few months in Munich, the Frenchman already had a good command of German and thus also showed how much he identified with the record champions. He also secured his place in club history as part of the sextuple-winning team of 2020/21. Merci, Coco - for five terrific years at FC Bayern.

Corentin Tolisso will leave FC Bayern when his contract expires - all you need to know: