Bayern Strikes
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Analyzing Bayern Munich’s loan of FC Dallas defender Chris Richards

By Garett Kerber

MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: FC Bayern Muenchen president Uli Hoeness (C), managing director of FC Bayern Munich LLC Rudolf Vidal (L), FC Bayern Muenchen merchandising manager Joerg Wacker (R) and owners of MSL club FC Dallas Clark Hunt (2ndL) and Dan Hunt (2ndR) pose during a visit at FCB Campus on February 10, 2018 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: FC Bayern Muenchen president Uli Hoeness (C), managing director of FC Bayern Munich LLC Rudolf Vidal (L), FC Bayern Muenchen merchandising manager Joerg Wacker (R) and owners of MSL club FC Dallas Clark Hunt (2ndL) and Dan Hunt (2ndR) pose during a visit at FCB Campus on February 10, 2018 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
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FC Dallas youngster Chris Richards has joined Bayern Munich on loan, but should American soccer fans really be excited about the move?

Earlier this year, Bayern Munich and FC Dallas announced a partnership. Now, FC Dallas has loaned defender Chris Richards to Bayern Munich. The 18-year-old Alabama native, spent 10 days training with Bayern two months ago, along with midfielder Thomas Roberts. The Bavarians liked what they saw from him enough to sign him on loan for six months to have him train and play under Sebastian Hoeness with the Bayern U-19s.

From the Official Bayern Munich website:

"“Chris made a very good impression during his trial in Munich, so we’ve decided to bring him here and give him a chance to play for our U19s,” commented Campus director Jochen Sauer. “We have a lot of confidence in him.”"

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Richards was named the ’17-18 Developmental Academy U-19 Central Conference Player of the Year and was included in the Conference Best XI this month, so no one can deny his status as one of the top American prospects.

Primarily a center-back, Richards stands at 6’ 2” and should gain valuable experience from the loan move. What Bayern gains is a closer look at one of the better defensive prospects in US soccer and some visible progress towards their stated goal of helping the game grow stateside.

FC Dallas had signed Richards to their 22nd-ever Homegrown Player deal in April of this year, so they stand to gain the small financial relief of not having a contract to pay — albeit small. Furthermore, they give one of their talented prospects time to develop with one of the best clubs in the world. In addition, Dallas already has a reputation of having a great development program in the US, and this only serves to solidify that reputation.

So how should Bayern Munich and American soccer fans feel about all this?

While this is a promising young player, he is not the big name, say, Josh Sargent is on the American soccer scene. Sargent is going to Werder Bremen with a chance at a bit of playing time, and he was signed outright. Richards, on the other hand, is still under contract with FC Dallas.

Even looking at another FC Dallas product and Bundesliga up-and-comer, Weston McKennie of Schalke 04, it is hard to compare the two situations. Certainly, FC Dallas has done well in developing players, but Schalke identified McKennie before he signed any deal with the MLS.

It’s easy to take the cynical, if not realistic, approach of thinking that this is all an easy means of gaining good will and possibly new supporters for either group.

For American and Bayern fans, there are shades of Julian Green hype possible here. A young US player with the Bayern crest on their chest is enough to make an American Outlaw swoon. Consider the amount of attention given to Timothy Tillman, just because there is a possibility of his playing for the US Men’s National Team. That’s a lot of eyes and a lot of attention. That’s also a lot of currency flowing in the direction of both FC Dallas and Bayern Munich.

However, fans should be excited to see the FC Dallas-Bayern Munich partnership producing movement already 4 months since the announced team-up. American players getting extended time in Europe with a club that has produced some of the world’s best players can only be a good thing. For Bayern, direct access to another pipeline of talent should only strengthen the club both on the pitch and off it.

As long as expectations are tempered, these types of moves should be celebrated accordingly! Richards is going to face some struggles that go beyond the pitch. Getting comfortable in the squad in a new place where the native language isn’t English and being one of the few — maybe only — American players in the system will be tough. From the video interview Bayern produced, it seems he already has some friends on the team, which should help his development.

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He wants to model his game after Jerome Boateng, who he claims as his favorite player. Here’s hoping the enthusiasm stays strong and he can reach even the high levels of his role model. In the meantime, we’ll all remain curious about how this FC Dallas-Bayern Munich partnership will work out and whether any moves will result in success on the pitch, rather than simply generating interest off of it.