Tor des Jahres - Das waren Harry Kanes Vorgänger beim FC Bayern

Twenty-five years since Giovane Elber, another FC Bayern player has finally managed to score the Goal of the Year. Harry Kane received the prestigious ARD Sportschau award for his wonderful effort to make it 3-0 against FC Augsburg in November 2024. With the accolade, Kane follows in some big footsteps for the German record champions. Seven players previously scored a Goal of the Year in a Bayern shirt, including club legends like Gerd Müller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Klaus Augenthaler, Lothar Matthäus and Élber. We look back over their brilliant strikes.

Goal of the Year 1976: Gerd Müller vs. Baník

In the first leg of the second round of the 1976/77 European Cup against Baník Ostrava, Gerd Müller netted the 1976 Goal of the Year with a beautiful diving header from a cross from the right flank, although Bayern still went down to a 2-1 defeat. "Gerd’s header after a cross from the right was wonderful," said Uli Hoeneß about his former team-mate's goal. "The ball was too high for me but he was always in the right place – he just had that unmatched instinct. The ball sailed into the corner." FCB turned it around in the second leg against Ostrava and won 5-0 to progress.

Goal of the Year 1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge vs. Bochum

In the third minute of the Bundesliga match against VfL Bochum in October 1980, Rummenigge netted the only goal in a 1-0 win and received the coveted Sportschau for his effort. " I had my back to the goal, surrounded by Bochum players, the only one of us anywhere near the goal," described the former club CEO. "So I had to juggle the ball three times until I said to myself: now you have to have a shot! It looped over the keeper and was a technically demanding strike – but not as planned. I had to do something special to be able to get a shot off."

Goal of the Year 1988: Jürgen Wegmann vs. Nürnberg

The perfect scissor kick: Jürgen Wegmann fired Bayern to a 1-0 win over 1. FC Nürnberg in artistic fashion in 1988, earning him the Goal of the Year. "Olaf Thon crossed the ball into the box from midfield on 35 minutes," recalled Wegmann. "I was horizontal in the air and I hit the ball perfectly. It was certainly worthwhile me doing 18 Bruce Lee drills a day for four years, for example for coordination and flexibility. The fact I suffered bruised ribs when I hit the ground was a minor matter."

Goal of the Year 1989: Klaus Augenthaler vs. Frankfurt

From almost 50 metres out, Augenthaler beat Eintracht Frankfurt Uli Stein to score the winning goal for Bayern and was recognised for this sublime strike with the 1989 Goal of the Year. "Coach Jupp Heynckes had mentioned before this DFB Cup match at Eintracht Frankfurt that Uli Stein liked to stand very far off his line, like a kind of libero," said Augenthaler. "I then noticed during the game that he was constantly outside his penalty area when Frankfurt were in possession, so I just tried it – and the ball landed perfectly."

Goal of the Year 1992: Lothar Matthäus vs. Leverkusen

Matthäus landed the 1992 Goal of the Year with a brilliant volley from a corner against Bayer Leverkusen. "I returned to Munich from Inter Milan that summer and had worked hard after my cruciate ligament tear to be back on the pitch after just five months," recalled Matthäus, describing the particular significance of the goal. "During that period, things still weren’t quite functioning as naturally as they normally did, which lead to me receiving criticism. And then came 21st November in Leverkusen: I took a corner from the left on the volley, 20 metres from goal, and the ball flew into the top corner. We won 4-2 in the end. It was my first competitive goal in one and a half years – and a real redemption."

Goal of the Year 1995: Jean-Pierre Papin vs. Uerdingen

Jean-Pierre Papin entered himself into the history books with a beautiful overhead kick against Bayer 05 Uerdingen, winning the Goal of the Year prize for 1995. "I was on the end of a perfectly timed cross from Markus Babbel for that goal," said Papin. "Everything was just perfect. I didn't think at all, it was 100% spontaneous. As soon as you start thinking, even for a fraction of a second, it's impossible for an overhead kick to succeed. I also remember well how the Südkurve exploded with joy when the ball hit the back of the net. It gave me real goosebumps!"

Goal of the Year 1999: Giovane Élber vs. Rostock

Élber earned the 1999 award with a stunner from the corner flag. "When Martin Pieckenhagen, Rostock's goalkeeper, ran out to the corner flag, I asked myself: What is he doing here?" described the Brazilian. "He tried to block me and let the ball go out of bounds. But he didn't catch me, instead he fell down and I trapped the ball on the byline. Then everything happened in a flash. Pieckenhagen wasn't in his goal, a defender came running towards me, so I thought to myself: now I just have to hit the target somehow - with my left, that was the most difficult part of it all. And it worked. It was the best goal of my career."

Twenty-five years later, Harry Kane now gets to enjoy the special award: