INTERVIEW: Bayern boss Hoeness happy with view from the top

By Christian Kunz Dec 29, 2011, 3:11 GMT

Munich - Uli Hoeness has to smile a bit when asked about his New Year's resolutions.

'I always resolve to lose five or 10 kilos but that's always the same on New Year's Eve,' Bayern Munich's president says in an interview with dpa.

'Sometimes it works, other times not. The best therapy would be to be stress-free. If the team is playing well there's a good chance of that.'

It's looking particularly good then this coming year for the president's best intentions, with Bayern top of the Bundesliga at the winter break and still in the German Cup and the Champions League.

Hoeness, who celebrates his 60th birthday on January 5, has certainly seen tenser times at the club he joined as an 18-year-old player and with whom he won three European Cup titles.

'There has rarely been a year when we have been able to be as wholly satisfied as this year. It's all hard to believe when you look at the whole picture,' he said.

'It's not just about the (unofficial) autumn championship (as mid-season leaders) and the Champions League, but also the financial situation. It's calm at the club, no rows or disputes, no large conflicts.'

While other German and European rivals have taken on massive debts, Hoeness, in his capacity as general manager and now president in succession to Franz Beckenbauer, has been known for only wanting to spend what the club has in its own accounts earning interest.

Under his direction he has turned a club which in 1979 had debts and a turnover of only 12 million marks (about 6 million euros) into the most successful club in Germany which at its recent annual meeting announced a profit for the 19th successive year.

The entire Bayern concern, which includes the stadium operation, now has a turnover of 328.5 million euros (426.7 million dollars)

Hoeness says he has seen Bayern 'celebrate' football at times this season under coach Jupp Heynckes, and another league title - it would be Bayern's 23rd - would crown a successful turnaround after a turbulent season without any silverware under Dutchman Louis van Gaal.

Bayern are also dreaming of the Champions League title as the final is in Munich on May 19.

'Normally I always say the German championship is the most important,' Hoeness said.

'Now I have to say that when you have a Champions League final in Munich, which only happens once in a professional's life, you have to try to have that as your goal.'

Hoeness, who received 99.3 per cent of members' votes for the presidency two years ago, has now grown accustomed to watching events on the pitch unfold from his place in the stands.

As general manager he used to enjoy sitting beside the coach on the touchline, but he has now become accustomed to sitting in the stands alongside finance chief Karl Hopfner and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

No longer can he find an outlet near the pitch for his emotions, although insists that in comparison to Rummenigge he is 'a lamb.'

'Of course, it's been more intensive on the bench. Up there you are even more powerless. You are almost in heaven,' he said.

'It's a new time. Down there it was pure adrenalin when you could shout at the linesman and collar the referee on the way to the dressing rooms to tell him, 'the way you're refeeing again today is just not on'.'

Despite the satisfaction with the present state of the club, Hoeness does see room for improvement in developing junior players.

Bayern is, however, doing well with home-grown talent, Hoeness said, citing Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos and David Alaba from the present team, and keeper Thomas Kraft who has gone to Hertha Berlin.

'There's no need to change the whole club but some adjustments are needed,' he said, adding that Bayern would be focusing more on European, German and especially Bavarian players.

Sports director Christian Nerlinger will present a concept in which Mehmet Scholl, Michael Tarnat and Joerg Butt will play a role. All are former Bayern players, or, in keeper Butt's case, still active.

That, according to Hoeness should be the Bayern way of doing things. Hoeness, fellow 1974 World Cup winner Beckenbauer - now honorary president - and Rummenigge were all top Bayern players and leading German internationals.

'That's exactly what I have in mind. Integrating former players who are predestined for this task is Bayern-like,' he said.

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