By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- When fans look back at their club's history in a few years they might consider 2019 as one of the most significant years for the five-time Champions League winner Bayern Munich.
Their attention, in this case, would not turn to the Bavarian's silverware won over the last decades but to the most drastic change in the club's leadership structure in over 40 years now - applied to secure the clubs future.
A generational change has turned out to be one of the biggest challenges so far. After all, legends such as Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had to be replaced. Both tried to leave their marks and neither always followed the same path.
Hoeness in the first place can be seen as the founder of the todays FC Bayern. The 67-year-old is going to give up his job as the club's president this November but remains as a board member until 2023.
From January 2020 on Bayern is in the safe hands of former German international and Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, who joined the side''s board this week and is said to succeed Rummenigge from 2022 as the new chairman. Kahn has signed a five-year contract.
Former Adidas chairman Herbert Hainer is to follow in the footsteps of Hoeness as the new president.
Hoeness can be seen as the great winner of the generation change as 50-year-old Kahn and 65-year-old Hainer are said to be his first choice and close friends. The former strikers' influence will remain active as he will act as a kind of elder statesmen in the background.
Hoeness might resign, but will keep things firmly under control.
The 1974 World Champion always underlined the need only to step back when his succession is in the right hands.
Kahn seems the best possible choice to make the needed changes to survive in international markets and to address the members and fans desire to remain a club with a family attitude. It has been a vital part of the club's staffing policy to involve former professionals or "family members" in the administrative structure and sportive section.
The future Bayern needs to become younger and address the requirements of modern professional sports. Kahn as Bayern's new figurehead is enjoying worldwide popularity, especially in Asia and has gained economic skills as a businessman.
Kahn spoke about the challenge to combine sportive and economic success with the club's values such as a close relationship to fans. The 2001 Champions League winner underlined the need to modernize and is said to favor a more open investment policy.
Hoeness and Rummenigge have delivered their share for Bayern's success. Hoeness deserves to be named Mr. FC Bayern as the father-figure lead the club to the country's number one. But even a never resting character like him recently admitted to no longer feel comfortable with modern football's practices.
Kahn now needs to find his way between the leaving club leaders and him as the man designing Bayern's future. It might be a good idea to work toward a smooth transition. The 86 times capped goalkeeper seems well prepared and aware of the challenge to keep Bayern riding the wave over the upcoming years.
