Klaus Augenthaler congratulates Jupp Heynckes on 80th birthday

Jupp Heynckes coached FC Bayern four times and was always there when he was needed. To mark his 80th birthday on 9 May, four companions recall great games, special moments - and an extraordinary person, who shaped them for life with his heart and attitude. Part 1: Klaus Augenthaler.

Dear Jupp,

Our first encounter was on the pitch. You as striker for Borussia Mönchengladbach, I as centre-half at FC Bayern. I have to tell you, it was no fun playing against you because you were just a great striker. Really clever, quick thinking, and the way you shielded the ball… But always fairly, without banter like you got from other opponents. Ten years later, you were my coach in Munich – and there again you were uncomfortable at first. Previously, under Udo Lattek, there was a lot of laissez-faire, we enjoyed a lot of freedom on and off the pitch. You were quite different, demanded discipline and professionalism, had clear ideas that you wanted to impose. You wanted to change a lot very quickly – perhaps it was too much and too fast. In any case, things didn't harmonise 100 percent between us in the first year.

We got on better from the second season, including us personally. We played tennis together once during pre-season. Afterwards, we enjoyed a beer and a snack. The next day we flew to London for a pre-season tournament, where we only came third. Afterwards, you blamed yourself for that because of the tennis. But I told you that you hadn't done anything wrong. It was just a pre-season tournament. Our relationship got better and better. I would say that we both took a step towards each other, you towards the team, the team towards you. On the pitch, we implemented more and more of what you had in mind. And you've become a bit more relaxed. I remember how often you told me that I liked to smoke a cigarette. At some point I just said: “Coach, I'm going to stop now.” A few days later, I had to stop at a traffic light on the way to training – what I didn't realise was that you were in the car behind me. And you saw how I was smoking again. You confronted me at Säbener Straße. I turned red and felt guilty, but then you laughed. That's when I realised that you weren't quite as dogged as you were at the beginning.

A few years later, in spring 1990, I stood next to you at the title celebrations on the Town Hall balcony, when you made a promise to the fans to win the European Cup next year. I nearly dropped the trophy in surprise. The euphoria got the better of you a little, but it almost worked out. We made it to the semi-finals, where I then scored that fatal own goal together with Raimond Aumann in the second leg at Red Star Belgrade. That was very bitter and hurt us all.

On the whole, though, we had a successful period together. We were champions twice, reached the semi-finals of the European Cup twice and the UEFA Cup once. You later showed at Real Madrid and again at Bayern what an excellent coach you are. You weren’t just a highly competent and meticulous worker, but were always human too. I never met another coach who cared so much about the players who were sitting on the bench. You spoke to them a lot and made it clear to everyone how important they were for the team.

What I also appreciated about you is that you were always honest. Of course, that could sometimes hurt but you always meant well. I can fully understand why Uli Hoeneß always says letting you go back then was his biggest mistake. On your 80th birthday, I wish you 20 more healthy years, at least. You’ll manage that, you never smoked.

Klaus Augenthaler

This text appears in the current edition of FC Bayern club magazine ‘51’: