Kane must win Champions League to become Bayern legend — Hamann

Harry Kane has been told that winning the UEFA Champions League is the one achievement that will elevate him into Bayern Munich folklore, with former midfielder Dietmar Hamann insisting European glory is the final step before the England captain can be mentioned alongside club legends such as Oliver Kahn, Franz Beckenbauer, Franck Ribery and Robert Lewandowski.

Despite already becoming one of Bayern’s most prolific goalscorers and a firm fan favourite, Hamann believes lifting Europe’s biggest club trophy is what separates Kane from the immortals of the Allianz Arena.

The former Bayern midfielder also backed Kane to sign a new contract with the Bundesliga champions, insisting the club would do “pretty much anything” to keep him in Munich.

Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023 and has enjoyed a remarkable spell in Germany.

The England captain, who left Spurs as Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer, has won three Bundesliga Golden Boots and scored an astonishing 146 goals in 147 appearances for Bayern.

He has also lifted two domestic league titles and two cup trophies while continuing to rewrite goalscoring records for both club and country.

With just 12 months left on his current contract, speculation over Kane’s future has continued, but Hamann expects the striker to extend his stay in Bavaria.

Speaking with GOAL, Hamann said: “Well, obviously the club is very happy, he’s scored numerous goals for them.

“I think 50 or 60 in all competitions last season – scored a hat-trick in the cup final.

“He seems to be very settled here, I think his wife and his kids are happy here.

“He’s got a year left on his contract, but if he wants to stay, if he shows any signs of wanting to stay, I think the club will probably do pretty much anything for him to stay here.

“I think it’s going to happen.

“I don’t think he’s got any intentions of going back to the Premier League, because if he wanted to beat [Alan] Shearer’s record, he probably wouldn’t have come to Munich in the first place.

“So, yeah, I think it’s going to happen.”

Hamann said Kane had already won over Bayern supporters through his performances and conduct but believes Champions League success would secure his place in the club’s history.

“They love him here. Obviously, it’s a big thing for the German league, it’s a big thing for Bayern Munich to have an English captain here.

“Now, if you want to go down in history with Bayern Munich, you probably have to win the Champions League. Some of the biggest players are Champions League winners. So, if he really wants to go down in folklore and history, he probably has to win the Champions League.

“They love him here because he’s a great ambassador. You never hear any bad stories about him, anything off the field. He behaves well, he’s a role model, he leads by example. You know, there’s nothing not to like.

“But to really go down in history at a club where Kahn, Scholl, Matthaus, Beckenbauer, Effenberg, Robben, Ribery, they all won the Champions League here. And I think he’s probably got to do the same. Lewandowski, not to forget as well.”

Should Kane commit his future to Bayern as expected, he will have more opportunities to chase the one trophy Hamann believes would cement his place among the club’s greatest-ever players.

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