Jürgen Klinsmann: Harry Kane faces decisive season – Bayern would offer opportunities for titles

Exclusive Interview 

Jürgen Klinsmann is in a relaxed mood as Transfermarkt meets up with the 1990 World Cup winner at the Ritz-Carleton Hotel in Washington DC. The 57-year-old is in Washington as part of Bayern Munich’s US Tour and took some time to chat to TM about Robert Lewandowski’s departure from the Rekordmeister, his former club Tottenham and Harry Kane, and the importance of European clubs capitalizing on the growing US market ahead of the 2026 World Cup. 

“It will be a little bit of a tactical change for Bayern,” Klinsmann said when asked whether he could imagine a Bayern side without a true no.9. “I think over the next couple months, or so they will observe the market and perhaps bring in a no.9, even just as a backup even if Nagelsmann is a coach, like many of the younger generations, who likes to play without a true center-forward. Ultimately, they will be able to solve it. But we will all miss Lewandowski.”

As for Lewandowski’s decision to leave Bayern, Klinsmann does not doubt that the striker will be a legend forever at the club. “After a while, they will only remember all the good things,” Klinsmann said. 

On a personal level, Klinsmann understands Lewandowski’s decision to leave the club. Klinsmann started his career with Stuttgarter Kickers and became a Bundesliga star at VfB Stuttgart before playing for Inter Milan, Monaco, Tottenham, and eventually Bayern. A globetrotter, Klinsmann learned Italian and English early in his career and always seemed driven to see the world through football. 

Klinsmann: “Lewandowski proved himself and delivered”

“Lewandowski proved himself and delivered every year,” Klinsmann said. “And there might be a moment in which you say, you know, give me another crazy experience. I am running out of time here; I am 33, and what if I could play for another top club in Europe? So now he gets that experience.”

One of Klinsmann’s crazy experiences took him to Tottenham. At the Premier League club, Klinsmann became a true world star. Klinsmann charmed the British in his—for a German—untypical style, winning over a very critical audience with his big smile but also his ability to make fun of himself—Klinsmann celebrated his first goal by sliding with his chest on the ground after he was being accused of being a diver by the British press. 

Klinsmann scored 20 goals in 41 games for Tottenham. In his one year at the club—he would briefly return in the 1997/98 season. Despite the short time in North London, the German keeps an eye on the developments at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

“They have done a ton of work over the last 10-15 years,” Klinsmann said. “They build that stadium that is unbelievably beautiful. With that facility, they thought they could attack, but COVID hit and dampened the mood.”

Klinsmann: Bayern mentality crucial to win titles

Klinsmann believes that they have battled through the worst and that Antonio Conte could lead the club to silverware. “You know he is a bit like the Bayern Munich culture,” Klinsmann said about the Italian. “The only thing that matters to him is winning, and now they have a team that could do it. I mean, if you look at every individual player on that roster, they have the quality to win the Premier League.” 

That Bayern mentality that Klinsmann alluded to is a crucial ingredient for the German to create a thriving environment. “There are so many intense relationships at that club,” Klinsmann said. “When you clash all the time, it can make things go downhill; you think that is the end of the world. But no, that is not the case; it pushes players to the limits. I remember the clashes with Lothar Matthäus when I played there; it was an ongoing fight. But it created a lot of energy. The team saw it as me wanting to score goals and Lothar wanting to win titles. We drove each other to the extreme.” 

It was that environment that made Klinsmann choose Bayern in 1995. “In London, they were saying: ‘why are you leaving us,’” Klinsmann said. But I explained that by leaving, I would challenge for European titles and the Bundesliga right away, and I won those.” 

Klinsmann on Kane: You win titles at Bayern Munich

There is an interesting parallel here to today’s situation. Like in 1996, when Bayern signed Klinsmann to fill a void in the no.9 role, the club once again could look to Tottenham to fill a need. This time the desired target is Harry Kane, who has been repeatedly linked to Bayern Munich in the last few months. The Rekordmeister is certainly interested, but a transfer, if at all, would only be possible next summer. 

“Harry has that situation where he says: ‘I want to win the World Cup in Qatar, and I got to win something with Spurs,’” Klinsmann said. “This year is decisive for him; otherwise, you never build that confidence level.” 

Klinsmann pauses for some time when asked whether Kane could follow in his footsteps and go to Bayern to win silverware finally. “I never thought about it that way,” Klinsmann said. “But going to Germany would definitely give him that opportunity right away. But I think the way I see it from the outside, he committed now. He went through all this last year [when he was linked to Manchester City], and then came the commitment from Conte, and they had a strong year. This upcoming season they have a point to prove. I doubt he would move right before Qatar.” 

Indeed, when it comes to Bayern, Klinsmann does not think the club will wait until next year to sign a new center-forward. “I am pretty sure they will sign a new number 9 in the next couple of weeks.” 

But first, Bayern and other big clubs will be drawing a conclusion to their respective US Tours. Klinsmann believes those tours will be paramount for teams as North America is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup. 

“I think it is super important and wonderful to see how European clubs now recognize the North American market, the infrastructure over here, and the growth of MLS,” Klinsmann said, who is in D.C. as part of the Bundesliga legends tour supporting the growth of German soccer in the United States. “The growth of soccer in this country will be unstoppable. When you look back 25 years ago, it was nowhere. The 2026 World Cup is going to rock.”

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