Here are Jupp Heynckes’ last 7 Bayern Munich signings: Where are they now?
7. Javi Martinez - Bayern Munich
Right, first of all, we should point out that only players who joined the club under Jupp Heynckes’ watch are eligible here. So deals like the one for Leon Goretzka, which was signed off on during Heynckes’ reign, but the player didn’t arrive until after he had left, do not count. And that means there are no arrivals from Heynckes’ recent brief return from his retirement.
Going in order of most to least recent then, Jupp Heynckes’ last signing as Bayern Munich manager was Spanish international Javi Martinez. Bayern triggered the then 24-year-old’s 40 million euro release clause to bring him from Athletic Bilbao to the Allianz Arena. Renowned as a really dogged, tough and defence-minded holding midfielder in Spain, the now 30-year-old has often been deputised at centre-back in Bavaria, and he is still with the Bundesliga leaders.
6. Lukas Raeder - RW Essen
The second to last signing made by legendary coach Jupp Heynckes at the Allianz Arena was teenage goalkeeper Lukas Raeder. Brought to the club on a free transfer from Schalke, Raeder made a total of 3 appearances for Bayern, 2 of which came in the league. He left the club for Vitoria of Portugal, followed by Bradford City in England, and since the summer, he has been back in his hometown of Essen, playing for Rot-Weiss Essen in the fourth tier of German football.
5. Xherdan Shaqiri - Liverpool
Signed by Bayern for just under 12 million euros on June 30th 2012, Xherdan Shaqiri had shown much promise for Basel in Switzerland. His time in the Bundesliga, however, would be marred by inconsistency. His game time decreased year-on-year for three seasons, preceding a 15 million euro move to Inter Milan. It was a similar story at the San Siro, and Shaqiri ended up at Stoke City in the Premier League. Clearly a talent though, Shaqiri impressed in his three seasons in Staffordshire, and Jurgen Klopp was all too happy to activate his release clause and bringing him to Liverpool following the Potters relegation.
4. Mario Mandzukic - Juventus
Undoubtedly a very shrewd signing by Bayern Munich in the summer of 2012, Mario Mandzukic had averaged a goal every three games at Wolfsburg, and he cost the club only 13 million euros. He was far more prolific in Bavaria, bagging 48 goals in 88 games and winning eight trophies in his two seasons with the club. He left for Atletico Madrid in a 22 million euro move in 2014, and now plays for Juventus in Serie A, having reached the final of the 2018 World Cup with Croatia.
3. Mitchell Weiser - Bayer Leverkusen
Mitchell Weiser had only recently turned 18 when he joined Bayern Munich from Koln. Seemingly best suited to playing as a wing-back, the teenage youth international could play at either right-back or on the right wing as well. Quick, industrious and capable on the ball, Weiser made 21 first team appearances for Bayern, before being sold to Hertha Berlin. He spent three seasons as a regular at Hertha, but left for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
2. Claudio Pizarro - Werder Bremen
When Claudio Pizarro joined Bayern Munich at the age of 33 in 2012, you could have been forgiven for thinking the Bavarians would be his last top flight team in Europe. You’d have been wrong though, as after three decent seasons at the Allianz Arena, Pizarro signed for Werder Bremen. Two seasons later, he signed for Koln, but in the summer just gone - aged 39 - the Peruvian returned to Werder Bremen on a one-year deal.
1. Tom Starke - Bayern Coach
Bayern may not have been Claudio Pizarro’s final club, but they were Tom Starke’s. Brought in from Hoffenheim as a backup to Manuel Neuer, the veteran shot stopper made 12 first team appearances in six seasons with the club. Aged 37, Starke hung up his gloves over the summer, and now works as a goalkeeping coordinator in the Bayern youth teams.