How FC Bayern achieved triumphs despite missing key players

Injuries are an everyday occurrence in football, but the absence of key players seems dramatic. FC Bayern have to make do without some leaders at the moment, but history shows the German record champions often surpass themselves and achieve great triumphs in challenging times. Here are four historical examples that give hope.

1975: Victory over Leeds despite Hoeneß’ and Andersson’s absence

The 1975 European Champions’ Cup final against Leeds United began with a shock for FC Bayern: Swedish defender Björn Andersson had to be subbed off with a knee injury after a brutal foul four minutes into the match.

Uli Hoeneß too sustained a severe knee injury after a challenge before half-time (42’). It seemed as if the final would fit an unlucky season, with Bayern finishing tenth in the league and eliminated in the DFB Cup semi-finals. FC Bayern were reeling after the early injuries of two key players and Leeds United were dominant, but Munich fought with all they had.
Franz ‘Bulle’ Roth scored the opener out of the blue in the 71^st minute before Jupp Kapellmann invited Gerd Müller to seal the title. FC Bayern showed their mental strength despite setbacks to win the European Champions’ Cup for the second time in a row.

2001: Champions League triumph despite ban for Effenberg against Real

Stefan Effenberg was the centrepiece of Bayern’s play, and when the captain missed the Champions League semi-final return leg against Real Madrid at the sold-out Olympic Stadium, things did not look good despite the 1-0 victory at the Bernabéu, but Bayern showed it’s the collective that counts. Bayern with Effenberg replacement Owen Hargreaves and a clinical Giovane Élber, who opened the scoring in both legs, were solid at the back and prevailed, also because Jens Jeremies turned in world-class displays a few weeks after knee surgery and scored from a free-kick. The rest is history: Bayern went on to beat Valencia on penalties in the final at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, also because Stefan Effenberg levelled the scores from the penalty spot after Mendieta had put Valencia in front. Effe netted again in the shootout and FC Bayern went on to win the Champions League.

2013: Treble despite Kroos injury

Toni Kroos was one of Bayern’s upcoming key players under Jupp Heynckes but sustained a severe injury in the Champions League quarter-finals against Juventus. He had to be subbed off after a challenge with Stephan Lichtsteiner after only 16 minutes. “It’s very bitter of course,” Heynckes said after the game. “Many decisions will come in the next two months.”

Club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt said Kroos would be sidelined for “at least six to eight weeks” due to a torn adductor muscle. Kroos missed 23 competitive matches for Bayern and Germany, also because of an additional knee surgery. Many thought Bayern’s dreams of the treble might end, but Munich proved it was possible without Kroos. Thomas Müller, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry and Bastian Schweinsteiger took even more responsibility and Bayern went on to beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley to seal the historic treble.

2019/20: Six titles despite Niklas Süle’s cruciate ligament rupture

When Niklas Süle ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against FC Augsburg in October 2019, Bayern’s defence faced an acid test. It was his second cruciate ligament rupture after sustaining a severe injury as a Hoffenheim player in 2014. Germany head coach Joachim Löw, who banked on the defender for the Euro 2020, spoke of “very bitter news.”

Süle was sidelined for 183 days, but Hansi Flick found solutions: David Alaba played at centre-back and newcomer Alphonso Davies earned a regular place at left-back, and Bayern were more solid than ever. The result: a historic year with the championship title, the DFB Cup and the Champions League triumph. Niklas Süle benefited from the five-month break between the last sixteen first leg on 25 February, a 3-0 victory away at Chelsea, and the return leg at the Allianz Arena on 8 August, a 4-1 win, due to the lockdown. The defender used the time to work on his comeback and returned ahead of the final.

It paid off: Süle was subbed on when Jérôme Boateng sustained an injury in a challenge with Ángel Di María after 25 minutes in the final against Paris St. Germain. Bayern’s back four of Süle, Joshua Kimmich, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies was solid, and Kingsley Coman’s header sealed Bayern’s six triumph in Europe’s premier club competition. FCB rounded off the year with the UEFA Supercup, the DFL Supercup and the Club World Cup triumph.