Bayern Munich: The Bavarian Collective end of season review

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(Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images) /

Surprise of the season

Guillermo Kurten

Sven Ulreich. For me, the biggest surprise this season was Sven Ulreich. Quite frankly, few could have predicted that Bayern’s deputy keeper was capable of performing at such a high level. Unfortunately, Ulreich himself was initially given very little faith. But any keeper would have a mountain to climb in filling Manuel Neuer’s boots.

Under Carlo Ancelotti Ulreich had trouble finding his footing between the sticks. Bayern’s number two had an admittedly rough start, making some shocking errors.

Since then, Sven Ulreich has rightfully earned himself a contract extension for his heroics in goal while filling in for Manuel Neuer. It was gut-wrenching, however, seeing him let in Karim Benzema’s second goal in Bayern’s second-leg match against Real Madrid. It’s unfair that this will cement some people’s impression of Bayern’s backup goalkeeper who had an otherwise outstanding season.

Garett Kerber

The post-Ancelotti turnaround. This squad looked so dysfunctional, old, and un-Bayern that my expectation for a good season was finishing top of the Bundesliga but nowhere near any other silverware. Jupp Heynckes came back after so much time away and immediately FCB looked like a juggernaut again.

Kiran Thakare

The return of Jupp Heynckes. There was a lot of speculation around the vacant managerial post after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in September. Thomas Tuchel was the firm favorite to get the job as he was free after leaving Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Julian Nagelsmann was also linked with the job. However, Bayern shocked the world when they hired Jupp Heynckes on an interim basis.

Heynckes returned to Bavaria for his fourth tenure with the club — he retired from the game after winning the historic treble with Bayern in 2013. Jupp turned Bayern’s fortunes on their head in his short term with the club. The Bavarians clinched the Bundesliga title comfortably and came close to booking a place in the Champions League final. However, his tenure saw a disappointing end when Bayern were convincingly defeated by Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal last weekend.

Benjamin Scott

Niklas Sule’s excellent debut season. I would say Joshua Kimmich’s excellent debut season at right-back, but I never had any doubts about the young man’s ability in the position. Instead, I’ll go for Niklas Sule.

When Sule joined Bayern, nobody doubted the talents of the German giant. However, few could have predicted how easily he’d slot into this Bayern side. He scored Bayern’s debut goal of the Bundesliga campaign and never looked back.

Each week he was a genuine contender for a starting place in the Bavarian backline, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him play an important role for Germany at the World Cup this summer.