Konrad Laimer: The tireless driving force

It wasn’t the sort of goal you’d immediately attribute to Konrad Laimer at first glance, and yet, on closer inspection, it was one that does sum him up rather well. On Bundesliga Matchday 13, FC Bayern were away at Stuttgart. In the 11th minute, Laimer trapped a long ball in midfield with great technique, taking the pace out of the move and playing the ball to Michael Olise at just the right moment. The Frenchman took on and nutmegged his opponent – and Laimer? He’d long since started his run. Surging forward, he received the ball back from his teammate and back-heeled it past the goalkeeper into the net.

A fine finish, one for the highlights reel. Laimer later referred to it with humour and a tongue-in-cheek stage name. Anyone who wanted to could see the ‘Alpine Zidane’ in that moment. Those who looked more closely saw the real Laimer: a player who doesn’t switch off after playing a pass, doesn’t stand still, but keeps running until a chance turns into a goal. The finish was a work of art; the build-up was hard work.

Reinvigorated under Kompany

That's precisely the point: the player who, at FC Bayern, epitomises relentless intensity, tight marking, tackling and teamwork, is also capable of working magic. In fact, Laimer is rarely where a football match is at its most comfortable. You'll find him where things get tight, where the opposition is denied breathing space from the very first touch. He's where a potential counter-attack by the opposition can be turned back into a Bayern attack. Sometimes it seems as though he has an inner compass for those areas where something is about to happen. It's precisely this quality that the double winners will retain, for FC Bayern have agreed a contract extension with Laimer until 2029.

Last season, the 29-year-old Austrian was once again a key figure in Bayern’s game. In his first year in Munich, he was frequently deployed in central midfield – the position where he had made his mark for many years: as a midfielder with good tackling ability, strong off-the-ball movement and a natural instinct for when to press. Under Vincent Kompany, his role has changed. Laimer has established himself in the full-back position, thereby adding yet another dimension to his game.

That fits in with Kompany’s style of football. “He has a clear plan for how we want to play football, and he communicates it very well,” Laimer once said of his coach. Under the Belgian, Bayern aim to defend high up the pitch, press aggressively, regain possession immediately after losing the ball, and play the game in the opposition’s half as much as possible. This approach requires players who can not only sprint, but also know when to sprint. Players who recognise spaces early, put opponents under pressure and, at the same time, maintain the team’s balance. Laimer offers precisely this combination.

Deployed everywhere, reliable everywhere

As a full-back, Laimer interprets his role as being much broader than simply holding the line. He defends high up the pitch, pushes forward boldly, moves into the centre at just the right moment and consistently looks to get in behind the defence. In doing so, he remains constantly aware of the ball, his opponent and the next potential pressure situation. That's precisely where his strength lies. Laimer’s intensity never seems detached from the team’s game plan; rather, it's what gives that plan its edge.

The fact that Laimer fulfils this role so well is also down to his exceptional versatility. His career shows that he's not tied to a single position. So far, he's played most frequently in central midfield, and has made 183 appearances, scoring 16 goals and providing 20 assists in that position during his career. However, his development as a right-back has become almost as defining, with 110 appearances in that role, during which he's scored seven goals and provided 16 assists. On top of that, he's made 63 appearances in defensive midfield, scoring four goals and providing seven assists.

Laimer’s versatility is his trump card

This flexibility was particularly evident during the 2025/26 season. Across all competitions, Laimer made 28 appearances as a right-back for the German record champions, scoring two goals and providing nine assists in that position. He played at left-back on 16 occasions, scoring one goal and providing four assists. He also made three appearances in central midfield. He was a first-team regular and, in a sense, also a tactical option that Kompany could deploy in different ways depending on the opposition, the course of the match and the squad situation.

For a long time, Laimer was described primarily in terms of his intensity – regaining possession, winning tackles, pressing, and picking up second balls. All of that remains central to his game. But he has now also become significantly more productive with the ball at his feet. Three goals and nine assists in 29 Bundesliga appearances during the 2025/26 season, plus three assists in 11 Champions League matches. These figures demonstrate just how much the Austrian has expanded his role: from a defensive midfielder to a player who drives attacks forward, sets up goals and finishes moves off himself.

Bayern’s wings: pace and depth

This has a lot to do with the role of the full-backs under Kompany. They're not expected to just stay out wide and provide cover, but to change the game at the right moment: sometimes by cutting inside, sometimes by making runs into space, sometimes by creating an overload on the flanks, and sometimes by making late runs into the box. Laimer combines all these qualities: he's sharp in defence, bold going forward, and has the stamina to switch between the two time and again.

In Michael Olise, Laimer has a player in front of him who picks up on his runs, opens up space and adds the finishing touch. Olise brings creativity, changes of pace and strong dribbling ability to the game. Laimer complements him with overlapping runs, defensive cover, depth and constant support. One draws defenders towards him, whilst the other exploits the space that opens up. So the goal in Stuttgart was an almost perfect example of this partnership: Laimer created the chance, Olise cut inside, and Laimer finished off the move.

A player who lives up to expectations

This versatile defender is a good fit for FC Bayern partly because his style of play is closely linked to his personal identity: giving his all, never letting up, and always going for the next ball. “I can’t lose,” our number 27 once said in an interview with fcbayern.com. “It’s been like that ever since I was a small child. I always give my all.” You can see that in every match.

This attitude aligns with that of FC Bayern. 'Mia san Mia' is the standard on big nights and the benchmark for day-to-day work. Laimer embodies it in his own way: without much fuss, without grand gestures, but with tremendous consistency. In the dressing room, he’s seen as a positive influence; on the training pitch, he’s someone who immediately brings pace and intensity to the session. He can be relaxed, but never careless. Good-humoured, but always focused.

His record at Bayern also reflects this. In his first three years with the record champions, Laimer made 136 competitive appearances, scoring seven goals and providing 19 assists. He was crowned German champion twice, and won the DFB Cup and the German Supercup. Right from the start of his time at Bayern, he had emphasised that there's virtually nothing better for a footballer than winning trophies. “That’s why you train so hard and for so long – so that, in the end, you can hold something glittering in your hands,” he said. “I think I’m exactly where I need to be for that.”

These days, Laimer is well settled at FC Bayern and is far from having reached the peak of his development. He knows the club, the team and his role better than ever. At 29, he brings to the table the experience of a player who has been through a lot, played in many big matches and won titles. “I feel terrific and I feel I still have many, many years left in me,” said the defender.

Laimer staying: A sign of continuity

This is an important message for FC Bayern. After all, Laimer’s game thrives on reliability – on the certainty that he’ll make another run, keep pressing, and put in that extra legwork. But it now also thrives on his impact in the decisive areas. The midfielder has become a full-back who can shape Bayern’s play on both flanks. The driving force when defending has become a player who also makes his mark more frequently with the ball at his feet.

Konrad Laimer is staying until 2029. And perhaps that evening in Stuttgart best illustrates what that means for FC Bayern: his goal was the crowning glory of a move that brought together many of the qualities that set Laimer apart. The initial touch, spotting Olise, the run into the box, and the determination to finish off the move. And then, of course, that exquisite moment with the back-heel.

All the details on the contract extension: