Bayern Munich's top 15 best academy graduates of all time

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Bayern Munich are the best club in Germany without a doubt. However, one of the most underrated academies in the world is the German Giants: Bayern Munich. The academy (Adam Aznou Ben Cheikh) has played a crucial role in elevating Bayern above the other German clubs.

Their academy has produced various stars that have led the Bavarians to supremacy not only in Germany but also in Europe. The ability of Bayern Munich’s academy to attract and nurture top-quality players has been a main reason for the club’s success over the years.

The team from Munich focussed on their young players from the start and they helped those youngsters to develop into great players. Bayern are responsible for producing some of the biggest talents in the world. In this article, we will take a look at the top 15 best players to have graduated from Bayern Munich academy:

15. Jamal Musiala

A versatile player, Musiala can play in any attacking or midfield position. He is known for his close control and dribbling ability by which he is easily able to beat opponents. Musiala has great eyes for spaces and the ability to exploit them very well. He joined the academy in 2019 and after just one year he was promoted to the second team later on with his impressive performance he got promoted to the first team. Currently, he is one of the main players for Bayern Munich and also plays a key part in the German national team.

14. Mats Hummels

In his prime, he was one of the best defenders in the world. Hummels is physically strong and a very powerful player who is great in the air as well as on the ground. He is a technically gifted and tactically versatile centre-back who is very good with the ball. He joined the club in 1995 and graduated in 2006. Despite being a Bayern player he joined their arch-rival Borussia Dortmund which did create some controversies. But, overall he is a good player with great skills.

13. Piotr Trichiwski

Trichiwski was originally from Poland but he represented Germany internationally. He joined the Bavarian academy in 1999 and after spending three years in the academy he was promoted to the second team of Bayern Munich. Even though he did not make many appearances for Bayern he did have a good career as he went on to play for Sevilla, Hamburger, and Augsburg. Despite his small stature, he was able to make a big impact on his teams.

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12. Hans Pfluger

A German defender who was Bayern through and through, he spent most of his time at the Bavarian club. He made over 400 appearances for Die Roten throughout his career. Pfluger won eight domestic titles but unfortunately lost the 1987 European Cup. Hans was known for his no-nonsense defending and with aggression he was able to make a difference on the pitch.

11. Raimind Aumann

Aumann joined the academy in 1980 and after two years he was promoted to the first team. In his professional career, he spent 12 years in Bayern Munich and later on joined the Turkish side Besiktas. he did win several accolades within his career while playing for Die Roten. Aumann won the Bundesliga six times, DFB-Pokal twice and DFL Supercup twice. He was part of the World Cup squad which Germany won in 1990.

10. Klaus Augenthaler

Augenthaler joined Die Roten’s academy in 1975 and just after a year he got promoted to first team. The German defender spent his entire career with Bayern Munich making 404 appearances for the club and also scoring 52 goals. He also was the captain of his team and due to his leadership and discipline, many people respected him a lot. He won the Bundesliga seven times with Bayern, the DFB Pokal three times and the DFB Supercup two times. Augenthaler won the 1990 World Cup and was runner-up in the 1986 World Cup.

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9. Dietmar Hamann

Hamann joined the Bayern academy in 1989 and played there for three years and was promoted in 1992 to the first team. He was also a key part of Liverpool for a few years as well. He won five major trophies with Die Roten in those years and was part of a star-studded Bavarian team which included Lothar Matthaus, Thomas Helmer Oliver Kahn, etc. After leaving Germany, he played for Newcastle United and Manchester City.

8. David Alaba

Alaba joined Bayern Munich’s youth ranks in 2008. After a loan spell, he quickly established himself in the first team. He built a reputation for himself as one of the best players in his position. Alaba’s honours include a list with 10 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League titles. The Austrian international was one of the most consistent performing players for Die Roten. In 2021 he decided to join the Spanish giants Real Madrid and as of now, he remains a key player for the Los Blancos.

Also Read: Top 10 highest goalscorers in football history

7. Bastian Schweinsteiger

Schweinsteiger joined the academy at the age of 14 in 1998 and quickly rose through the ranks. He made his first team debut at the age of 18. He became one of the best midfielder in the world as he spent 17 years at Bayern making over 500 appearances. He also helped the club to win eight Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy. His role in the 2014 World Cup was crucial as they won the tournament. Later on, he played for Premier League side Manchester United as well.

6. Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos is unfortunately a Real Madrid legend, but he came through the ranks of the academy and played for Bayern Munich. Later on, he was sold to the Los Blancos for only €25m. He joined the Spanish outfit in 2014 and won six Champions League with them.

The German is known for his inch-perfect passing, setpieces, versatility, ball distribution and vision. His impressive performance over the years for both Real Madrid and National Team saw him win many trophies. He retired from the game very early despite being fit and playing at the highest level.

5. Thomas Muller

One player who has been present throughout the highs and lows at the Allianz Arena is Muller. he has been a key figure for the Bavarian giants for years. Due to his versatility, he is able to adjust anywhere on the field and is able to help his team.

Even though he does not get many minutes like he used to get in the early part of his career he is still happy and satisfied and always looks to help his team. Muller is a perfect example of a team player who does not complain and always gives his best on the pitch.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most trophies in football history

4. Phillip Lahm

Lahm was one of the best full-backs of his generation and was an integral part of Bayern Munich and the German National team. He joined the Die Roten’s youth team at the age of 11. He was promoted to the senior team in 2002 and after that, he didn’t look back.

Even though he did spend his first few years at VfB Stuttgart when he came back he became a regular starter for them. he concluded his Bayern career after making 517 appearances. He helped the team win eight Bundesliga titles, one UEFA Champions League, and one UEFA Super Cup. With the National, he also won the World Cup. Lahm was known for his honesty and leadership.

3. Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck

Schwarzenbeck formed an unbreakable duo with Beckenbauer. Just like Franz, he was also a top-quality defender in his era. His performance was many times overshadowed by Der Kaiser and he was often called the bodyguard of Beckenbauer. He was mostly known for his recoveries, unbreakable determination and pin-point tackles. he remained a one-club man throughout his career and retired with six league titles and three European Cups.

2. Sepp Mainer

Mainer was nicknamed, Die Katze von Anzing which means the cat from Anzing. This name was given to him due to his brilliant reflexes and incredible agility which he used to show on the pitch. He is probably one of the best goalkeepers that Germany ever produced. His career was 18 years long and spent his entire career at Bayern. As a player he won, four league titles and three European Cups. He also helped his National team to win the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup.

1. Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer is probably Germany’s greatest player of all time. He was referred to as Der Kaiser, which means the Emperor. He is one of the very few defenders to have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award during his career. The German helped Bayern to become one of the best domestically as well as in Europe.

Beckenbauer won the league five times, out of which four of them were with the Bavarian giants. He also won the European Cup three times, and with his leadership qualities, he was able to lead the defence from heart. His work rate and dedication made him a very special player.

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