Oliver Bierhoff comments on Uli Hoeness’ decision not to run for re-election for Bayern Munich’s presidency

Since Uli Hoeness has announced that he will not run for re-election to be Bayern Munich’s president in November, many of his colleagues have offered their take on the decision. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently talked in detail about what the future of Bayern’s front office will look like once Hoeness officially steps down as president, and now (via Bild+), director of national teams and academies at the DFB Oliver Bierhoff has weighed in on the decision.

While Bierhoff recognized just how much Hoeness means to Bayern and vice versa, he feels that he might not have as much of an influence on some of the important decision making in the future without holding an official position within the front office. Hoeness, of course, still plans on staying on Bayern’s supervisory board even after he steps down as president, but Bierhoff feels that having an influence might be a bit more difficult:

FC Bayern is very closely connected with his name. At the same time, the club also occupies a place of very great value in Uli Hoeness’ life. Of course he would always receive a hearing at FC Bayern on account of his life’s work even without an office, but exerting influence will definitely be more difficult without an official function.

By Sunday, August 29th, Hoeness wants to discuss his future on the supervisory board with the rest of Bayern’s board members. By then, he wants to have hashed out a clear plan for just how much he’ll still be involved with certain decisions for the club like transfers, coaching staff members, front office members, and other board members. While he’ll no longer be president of the club, the magnitude of the symbiotic relationship he has with FC Bayern will always see that his word(s) holds high value and merit in the important decison making processes for the club. Bierhoff feels that it might be more difficult for Hoeness to have as big of an influence, especially with a new president coming in this winter, but Hoeness and Rummenigge might not feel the same way.

Former Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer has been rumored to be the front-running candidate to succeed Hoeness, who would be one of the only people to hold a Bayern front office position without having actually played for them at any point. Still, though, he has a good relationship with both Hoeness and Rummenigge, so he’d likely be open to always take suggestions and advice from both of them if he is, in fact, the next president of the club.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images