“A dream has come true,” enthused Felix Magath as his VfL Wolfsburg players began celebrating a Bundesliga title that few expected them to even challenge for at the start of the season. Only a top-flight presence since 1997, the German champions were able to crack open the champagne after downing Werder Bremen 5-1 on the final day of the campaign.

Slow start
“I knew we were good but I didn’t think we had a chance to win the title,” explained Magath, whose side were still as low as ninth during the winter break, nine points shy of then joint-leaders TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Bayern München. Due to take over at FC Schalke 04 next term, the 55-year-old nonetheless feels his charges were worthy winners in the end. “We’ve put in strong performances all season and I believe we deserved to win the championship.”

Bayern congratulations
While Hoffenheim faded without injured striker Vedad Ibišević after the turn of the year and Bayern never settled into a consistent rhythm, Wolfsburg surged up the standings courtesy of 14 victories in 17 games, losing just twice. Perhaps none of those wins was more meaningful than the 5-1 demolition of runners-up Bayern on 4 April. “I explicitly want to congratulate Wolfsburg for winning the German championship – they deserve it,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, while caretaker coach Jupp Heynckes added: “VfL deservedly won the title. They’ve played the best football, especially in the second half of the season.”

Zwanziger surprise
“Before the season started, I did not count on Wolfsburg finishing in the top five,” admitted the German Football Association (DFB) president, Theo Zwanziger. “For me, this is an incredible achievement which will always be associated with the name Felix Magath. He has managed to build a strong team full of stars and talents and in the end achieved one of the biggest upsets in the Bundesliga in the past few years.”

Team reaction
“At the moment, it’s difficult to realise what’s happening here, but it’s absolutely merited,” explained Wolfsburg midfielder Christian Gentner, who celebrated another surprise Bundesliga title with VfB Stuttgart in 2007. His colleague Sascha Riether was of much the same opinion, saying: “This title is the icing on the cake of a great season, at the end of which we’ve deservedly finished on top.”

Strike duo
The newly-crowned champions made it 15 home victories in succession by overcoming Bremen, having remained unbeaten in their back yard all season. Essential to their success was the incredible form of strike duo Grafite and Edin Džeko, the former topping the Bundesliga scoring charts with 28 efforts and his team-mate only two behind. “Today, there will be the biggest party Wolfsburg has ever seen,” promised Džeko.

Bayern Munich have recruited the football professor they were looking for, but new coach Louis van Gaal will be expected to get top marks from his first day in charge on July 1.

Since former trainer Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked after only ten months in charge, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had been scouring the continent for a top-level, German-speaking coach to help re-establish Bayern in Europe.

The English media claimed Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger was approached, but there was little realistic chance of the Frenchman relinquishing control at the north London club.

Van Gaal led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch championship and finally won the title on April 19, while just eight days later Klinsmann was sacked by Bayern following dismal results including an unacceptably early Champions League exit.

Barcelona’s 4-0 mauling of Bayern in Spain and subsequent quarter-final defeat was the beginning of the end for Klinsmann.

For Van Gaal, a Bundesliga title will be the minimum level of success expected next season with Bayern hungry for their first Champions League crown since 2001.

“FC Bayern is a dream club for me,” said Van Gaal who has been famously quoted as declaring: “I am the best” after guiding Alkmaar to the title.

But Van Gaal will be expected to prove just that and hit the ground running at a club where failure is not an option – Klinsmann was sacked with his side third in the league and contending for the title.

“There’s a completely different mindset here at Bayern,” admitted goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt who reached the Champions League semi-final with Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.

“The entire club is geared towards success, trophies are all that count. You’re expected to win the league and every match, you’re not allowed slip-ups.”

Having steered Ajax to the Champions League title in 1995, the fiery Van Gaal has a wealth of experience having led the giants from Amsterdam to consecutive Dutch titles between 1994, 1995 and 1996.

Under his steerage, players such as Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars developed into world stars.

In 1998 and 1999, he also won La Liga with Barcelona before taking charge of the Dutch national side in 2000, but failure to lead them to the World Cup finals in 2002 meant he was replaced by Dick Advocaat.

Bayern Expect Top Marks From Football Professor Van Gaal … read more »

German giants Bayern Munich confirmed on Wednesday that Dutch coach Louis van Gaal will take over as head coach on July 1 having signed a two-year contract to replace the fired Jurgen Klinsmann.

Having led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch title this season, the 57-year-old has signed a deal with the Bundesliga champions, ending weeks of speculation over whether or not he would succeed Klinsmann, who was fired on April 27.

“We are happy to have signed an experienced and successful football coach for Bayern Munich such as Louis van Gaal,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in a statement.

Having steered Ajax to the Champions League title in 1995, the fiery Van Gaal has a wealth of experience having led the giants from Amsterdam to consecutive Dutch titles between 1994, 1995 and 1996.

In 1998 and 1999, he also won La Liga with Barcelona before taking charge of the Dutch national side in 2000, but failure to lead them to the World Cup finals in 2002 meant he was replaced by Dick Advocaat.

Then followed brief spells at Ajax and Barcelona, before he joined AZ in 2005 which culminated in Alkmaar winning the Dutch title on April 19 this year just after their decisive 28-game undefeated run was brought to an end.

Not lacking in self-confidence, Van Gaal boldly stated: “I am the best” after winning the Dutch title and Bayern’s bosses seem to agree.

The Dutchman inherits a squad who are still bidding for the Bundesliga title and are level on points with leaders Wolfsburg with two games league remaining having beaten neighbours Bayern Leverkusen 3-0 on Tuesday.

He replaces Klinsmann who was sacked as Bayern coach after only ten months in charge following a poor run of results.

Bayern Name Van Gaal to Replace Sacked Klinsmann … read more »

Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski admits confidence is returning to the defending Bundesliga champions after coach Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked last month.

Ex-Germany boss Klinsmann was axed on April 27 with five games remaining after his side were beaten 1-0 by Schalke 04 to leave them third in the league table while Jupp Heynckes took over as caretaker coach.

While a replacement is sought for Klinsmann, Bayern have moved up to second in the table and level with leaders Wolfsburg with two games remaining as Podolski, 23, has scored two goals in his last two games.

Bayern picked up their 19th league win of the season on Tuesday night in the 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen and Munich are on course to retain their crown if they can win their last two games as Podolski says the improvement is obvious.

“We?ve come on well as a team in the last few games,” said Podolski, who will leave Bayern at the end of the season to play for Cologne having spent most of the last two seasons on the bench.

“We?re well-organised, training is good, and you can see the results out on the park.

“Jupp Heynckes has restored my belief, I?m confident about starting matches, and I think I?ve repaid his faith when I?ve played,” added Podolski voted the best young player at the last World Cup.

And having taken over from Michael Rensing between the posts, Bayern’s former Leverkusen goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt says his experience in Munich has been an eye-opener where success is both expected and demanded.

“There?s a completely different mindset here at Bayern,” said the former Leverkusen goalkeeper who has three caps for Germany.

“The entire club is geared towards success, trophies are all that count here.

“You?re expected to win the league and every match, you?re not allowed slip-ups.

“In Leverkusen we often looked good and played brilliantly against big-name opponents, but we ran into trouble and lost to the smaller clubs.”

With two games left, Bayern have a tough run in with a trip to Hoffenheim on Saturday before the final game of the season on May 23 against title rivals at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Wolfsburg are at mid-table sides Hanover and Werder Bremen for their remaining games and remain top by virtue of a two-point goal difference, while third-placed Hertha are at home to Schalke 04 and bottom side Karlsruhe.

France international midfielder Franck Ribery has criticised his Bayern Munich team-mates over on-pitch tactics, the German media reported on Tuesday.

“I complained to the coach (Jurgen Klinsmann) about the fact that I never have enough support when I want to attack on the left side,” Ribery told the tabloid daily Bild. “The coach said I had a point.”

Ribery, who has been repeatedly linked with a big-money move away from the club, was speaking in reference to Bayern’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Werder Bremen on Sunday, which left the reigning champions fifth in the Bundesliga table.

His remarks come at a time when speculation about his future is mounting, with his agent having recently suggested that he could be set for a move to Spanish league leaders Barcelona.

German football legend and former Bayern hero Franz Beckenbauer has expressed his frustration with the situation.

“It’s always a problem when a player wants to leave and holds a gun to his club’s head because he has only a slim chance of leaving,” Beckenbauer told Bild.

“Regarding Ribery, it seems that these statements are targeted,” he added. “Bayern have been dependant on him for a long time.”

Ribery Criticises Team-mates As Transfer Rumours Mount … read more »