‘Stupidity’ – Harry Kane more adored than Robert Lewandowski even if £100m star will miss Bundesliga party
Harry Kane may celebrate his first-ever trophy from the sidelines, but that won’t make him any less loved by Bayern Munich’s fans. In a cruel twist of fate, the England captain will miss the match where his side look very likely to clinch the Bundesliga title through suspension, which was the result of booking in a 3-0 win over Mainz. Harry Kane will be unable to add to his 24 league goals against LiepzigRex Features Bayern will be crowned league champions if they beat RB Liepzig on Saturday, Kane’s fifth yellow card of the season means he will be forced to watch from the sidelines rather than at the centre of the party. It is a bitter blow for the goal machine, who is finally set to end his infamous career-long trophy drought. Kane went without silverware in his 14 years at Tottenham, while his continued woes since joining the German giants in 2023 have seen him become the subject of ridicule among rival fans – namely Arsenal – back in England. But this hasn’t been the case for the 31-year-old in Germany, who has become a revered figure among the Bayern faithful. So much so, that talkSPORT’s European football journalist Andy Brassell believes supporters have taken to Kane more than they have with previous stars, including goalscoring great Robert Lewandowski. Speaking on the Trans Euro Express, Brassell revealed the Englishman’s suspension for the title-deciding clash had sparked rare criticism in German publication Bild. He explained: “There’s a rather annoyed editorial in [Sunday morning’s] Bild- really telling Kane off for being so stupid and getting the booking, so he can’t play in the game where they win the title. “Which is interesting because Harry Kane has been exemplary on and off the pitch since he’s been in Munich. “People absolutely love him, in a way that maybe they didn’t quite love Robert Lewandowski.” Lewandowski was undoubtedly Bayern’s main man in his eight years at the Allianz Arena. Kane never won a trophy with Spurs but came close numerous timesGetty He is adored at Bayern, where he is already nearing the 100-goal markGetty Robert Lewandowski was the Champions League’s top scorer in the 2019/20 season, the year Bayern claimed European gloryGetty Images Now he can finally call himself a champion Between 2014 and 2022, the Pole scored a staggering 344 goals in 375 games, winning eight Bundesliga titles and the 2020 Champions League, as well as a host of goalscoring accolades, including two European Golden Shoe awards. But since his £100million move to Bavaria, Kane has seamlessly taken on the mantle as the club’s attacking talisman, plundering 80 goals and recording 24 assists in 89 games altogether. His debut campaign in Germany saw him score 36 times in the league, just five short of Lewandowski’s single-season record of 41 in 2020/21, and also secured him the European Golden Shoe. The ex-Spurs star is on course to finish as the Bundesliga’s top scorer for a second time, having struck on 24 occasions this term, five more than closest rival Patrick Schick. Comparing the two, Brassell also pointed to Cristiano Ronaldo‘s relationship with fans during his nine-year stint at Real Madrid. He continued: “We’ve talked about this before, haven’t we? In terms of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, someone who was respected more than he was loved even though he [recorded] a goal a game for nine seasons. GettyThe England talisman has embraced life in Germany, making him a favourite among the Bayern support[/caption] Andy Brassell discussed Kane’s popularity at the Allianz Arena “And obviously Lewandowski’s goal record is enviable, uncatchable, unmatchable – all of those things. “This is the guy who in 2021 broke Gerd Muller’s [39-year record for scoring 40 in a season] that no one was ever going to break. [The record] funnily enough was what Kane threatened to break in his first season before he picked up a little injury. But that’s a different story.” Explaining why Kane has been such a hit among fans, Brassell highlighted the England hero’s choice of Bayern as his next destination after Spurs, despite interest from several top clubs. He went on: “But everything that Kane is – the fact that he wasn’t just another good player coming to Bayern, but he was the England captain choosing to come to Bayern. “It was a massive, massive deal. And it still is a massive, massive deal. “So I think you’ve often wondered what it would take German football society and Bayern followers to criticise him. Well, we’ve finally found that sweet spot – it’s when he gets himself booked so he can’t play in the title game.” Kane has enjoyed huge support from his club’s fansGetty Kane's near misses Kane has come close to winning trophies before... 2015: League Cup runner-up with Tottenham (lost to Chelsea) 2017: Premier League runner-up with Tottenham (Chelsea topped it)
Harry Kane may celebrate his first-ever trophy from the sidelines, but that won’t make him any less loved by Bayern Munich’s fans.
In a cruel twist of fate, the England captain will miss the match where his side look very likely to clinch the Bundesliga title through suspension, which was the result of booking in a 3-0 win over Mainz.
Bayern will be crowned league champions if they beat RB Liepzig on Saturday, Kane’s fifth yellow card of the season means he will be forced to watch from the sidelines rather than at the centre of the party.
It is a bitter blow for the goal machine, who is finally set to end his infamous career-long trophy drought.
Kane went without silverware in his 14 years at Tottenham, while his continued woes since joining the German giants in 2023 have seen him become the subject of ridicule among rival fans – namely Arsenal – back in England.
But this hasn’t been the case for the 31-year-old in Germany, who has become a revered figure among the Bayern faithful.
So much so, that talkSPORT’s European football journalist Andy Brassell believes supporters have taken to Kane more than they have with previous stars, including goalscoring great Robert Lewandowski.
Speaking on the Trans Euro Express, Brassell revealed the Englishman’s suspension for the title-deciding clash had sparked rare criticism in German publication Bild.
He explained: “There’s a rather annoyed editorial in [Sunday morning’s] Bild- really telling Kane off for being so stupid and getting the booking, so he can’t play in the game where they win the title.
“Which is interesting because Harry Kane has been exemplary on and off the pitch since he’s been in Munich.
“People absolutely love him, in a way that maybe they didn’t quite love Robert Lewandowski.”
Lewandowski was undoubtedly Bayern’s main man in his eight years at the Allianz Arena.
Between 2014 and 2022, the Pole scored a staggering 344 goals in 375 games, winning eight Bundesliga titles and the 2020 Champions League, as well as a host of goalscoring accolades, including two European Golden Shoe awards.
But since his £100million move to Bavaria, Kane has seamlessly taken on the mantle as the club’s attacking talisman, plundering 80 goals and recording 24 assists in 89 games altogether.
His debut campaign in Germany saw him score 36 times in the league, just five short of Lewandowski’s single-season record of 41 in 2020/21, and also secured him the European Golden Shoe.
The ex-Spurs star is on course to finish as the Bundesliga’s top scorer for a second time, having struck on 24 occasions this term, five more than closest rival Patrick Schick.
Comparing the two, Brassell also pointed to Cristiano Ronaldo‘s relationship with fans during his nine-year stint at Real Madrid.
He continued: “We’ve talked about this before, haven’t we? In terms of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, someone who was respected more than he was loved even though he [recorded] a goal a game for nine seasons.
“And obviously Lewandowski’s goal record is enviable, uncatchable, unmatchable – all of those things.
“This is the guy who in 2021 broke Gerd Muller’s [39-year record for scoring 40 in a season] that no one was ever going to break. [The record] funnily enough was what Kane threatened to break in his first season before he picked up a little injury. But that’s a different story.”
Explaining why Kane has been such a hit among fans, Brassell highlighted the England hero’s choice of Bayern as his next destination after Spurs, despite interest from several top clubs.
He went on: “But everything that Kane is – the fact that he wasn’t just another good player coming to Bayern, but he was the England captain choosing to come to Bayern.
“It was a massive, massive deal. And it still is a massive, massive deal.
“So I think you’ve often wondered what it would take German football society and Bayern followers to criticise him. Well, we’ve finally found that sweet spot – it’s when he gets himself booked so he can’t play in the title game.”
Kane's near misses
Kane has come close to winning trophies before...
2015: League Cup runner-up with Tottenham (lost to Chelsea)
2017: Premier League runner-up with Tottenham (Chelsea topped it)
2019: Champions League runner-up with Tottenham (lost to Liverpool)
2021: League Cup runner-up with Tottenham (lost to Man City)
2021: European Championship runner-up with England (lost to Italy)
2023: German Super Cup runner-up with Bayern (lost to RB Leipzig)
2024: European Championship runner-up with England (lost to Spain)
And while Kane will not play an active role as Bayern look to wrap up his first career silverware, supporters will certainly hope to see him take centre stage as they target more glory in the future, with him and Eric Dier becoming the 66th and 67th players to leave Spurs and win a trophy.
That is especially after it was revealed the striker plans to remain in Bavaria for at least one more year.
Reports of a release clause in Kane’s Bayern contract that drops to £54m for an English team in January put a number of clubs on alert that he could be open to a move back, including Manchester United.
However, sources close to Kane have indicated he is happy at the German champions-elect, where he is keen to try and defend their imminent Bundesliga crown, and launch a serious Champions League title charge.
And who can blame England’s all-time record goalscorer when he is so adored by his fans?
talkSPORT verdict
Breakfast host Ally McCoist think Liverpool and Kane would be a dream combination.
“I look at Liverpool just now and they could probably still do with an out-and-out number nine, proper goalscorer.
“Luis Diaz has been brilliant, Mohamed Salah has been absolutely out of this world and they’ve got midfielders chipping in with goals.
“I don’t see it happening, but if Harry Kane won the Bundesliga, which he will do, and then fancies coming back to England?
“I just think, for Liverpool, that would be a dream move for them.”
Listen to the Trans Euro Express on talkSPORT every Sunday night from 9pm featuring European football journalist Andy Brassell
