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Bayern Munich will need luck to win the Champions League, says Carsten Jancker
Retired striker believes his former side will need more than just skill if they are to earn international glory this season, and has weighed in on his career and future
Nov 8, 2011 3:50:00 PM
Bongarts
EXCLUSIVE
By Maximilian Bensinger
Since he left Kaiserslautern in 2006, Carsten Jancker has become somewhat of a forgotten figure in German football. The towering striker previously won four domestic doubles with Bayern Munich and the 2001 Champions League.
In an interview with Goal.com, Jancker discussed the state of his former club, as well as the 1999 Champions League final, in which he had an audacious overhead kick rattle the woodwork before his team succumbed to a late loss to Manchester United.
He also weighed in on his time in Italy at Udinese, and in China during his six-month stay at Shanghai Shenhua.
Goal.com: Mr. Jancker, you were with FC Bayern when they won the Champions League. Can Bayern repeat that feat this season?
Carsten Jancker: Until now, FC Bayern have had a very good season. In the end, however, only titles matter. They will probably win the Bundesliga. In the Champions League, you always need luck.
Goal.com: Luck, is that what was missing in 1999?
Carsten Jancker: Well, in that game we were without luck. But then we also won two league titles with the best of luck.
Goal.com: Many remember your bicycle kick from the '99 final. How often do you still think about it?
Carsten Jancker: Now no longer. But it of course took some time for me to get that scene out of my head. I went through it over and over again, mainly because the defeat was so bitter.
Goal.com: Do you still visit Bayern at the Sabener Strasse training ground?
Carsten Jancker: Two or three times a year I go to Munich. But mostly for personal reasons. I rarely visit the Sabener.
Unsung hero | Jancker formed a fearsome partnership with Giovane Elber at Bayern
Goal.com: Where was your best time as a professional footballer?
Carsten Jancker: This is clear. It was of course at FC Bayern and Rapid Wien. At Bayern I became a national team player and won many titles. Also, two of my children were born there. Now of course I have another place to live. I still play for the Bayern All-Stars [a team of retired Bayern players]. It all started at Rapid. There I became a successful professional footballer, and I work there today.
Goal.com: At Bayern you had your best spell. How would you assess your two years at Udinese?
Carsten Jancker: It was very difficult and not a good time for me. At first I did not play well and then everything went wrong.
Goal.com: What exactly? Two goals in two years is of course a very meagre tally, right?
Carsten Jancker: Of course. But it must be remembered that I also had a pubic bone inflammation. Because of this persistent injury I was out for over half a year. After my streaky performance in my early days, it became very difficult to regain a foothold.
Goal.com: After such a great career, that's an undignified exit from the big stage.
Carsten Jancker: Well, it was just a very difficult time. The injury problems and my poor games meant that I was never really happy at Udinese.
Goal.com: What do you have to say about Miroslav Klose?
Carsten Jancker: He looks good. He has quickly found his way into the team and scored goals for Lazio.
Goal.com: After Italy, you went to Kaiserslautern for two years and then to Shanghai Shenhua in the Far East. How was your time there?
Carsten Jancker: It's a completely different world, I was only there for half a year. These were some interesting months.
Goal.com: Why China? Was the money decisive?
Carsten Jancker: Obviously there was a good offer. In sporting terms, no one could know exactly what to expect. But I did not find my old form, so I went back to Austria after only six months.
Goal.com: Where your career finally ended. Could you eventually return to be a coach in the Bundesliga?
Carsten Jancker: I do not know. Right now I would say that it does not look to be so. I've completed my coaching qualifications and am now the youth coordinator at Rapid Wien. I also must honestly say that my family now takes precedence. My wife has always travelled with me and it was clear that we would eventually return to Wien. It's our home.
By Maximilian Bensinger
Since he left Kaiserslautern in 2006, Carsten Jancker has become somewhat of a forgotten figure in German football. The towering striker previously won four domestic doubles with Bayern Munich and the 2001 Champions League.
In an interview with Goal.com, Jancker discussed the state of his former club, as well as the 1999 Champions League final, in which he had an audacious overhead kick rattle the woodwork before his team succumbed to a late loss to Manchester United.
| Bet: | Returns: | Switzerland £40.00 | Draw £34.00 | Germany £18.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Switzerland £37.50 | Draw £33.00 | Germany £18.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Switzerland £40.00 | Draw £35.00 | Germany £18.33 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Switzerland £43.30 | Draw £36.00 | Germany £18.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Switzerland £41.00 | Draw £33.00 | Germany £18.20 |
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He also weighed in on his time in Italy at Udinese, and in China during his six-month stay at Shanghai Shenhua.
Goal.com: Mr. Jancker, you were with FC Bayern when they won the Champions League. Can Bayern repeat that feat this season?
Carsten Jancker: Until now, FC Bayern have had a very good season. In the end, however, only titles matter. They will probably win the Bundesliga. In the Champions League, you always need luck.
Goal.com: Luck, is that what was missing in 1999?
Carsten Jancker: Well, in that game we were without luck. But then we also won two league titles with the best of luck.
Goal.com: Many remember your bicycle kick from the '99 final. How often do you still think about it?
Carsten Jancker: Now no longer. But it of course took some time for me to get that scene out of my head. I went through it over and over again, mainly because the defeat was so bitter.
Goal.com: Do you still visit Bayern at the Sabener Strasse training ground?
Carsten Jancker: Two or three times a year I go to Munich. But mostly for personal reasons. I rarely visit the Sabener.
Unsung hero | Jancker formed a fearsome partnership with Giovane Elber at Bayern
Goal.com: Where was your best time as a professional footballer?
Carsten Jancker: This is clear. It was of course at FC Bayern and Rapid Wien. At Bayern I became a national team player and won many titles. Also, two of my children were born there. Now of course I have another place to live. I still play for the Bayern All-Stars [a team of retired Bayern players]. It all started at Rapid. There I became a successful professional footballer, and I work there today.
Goal.com: At Bayern you had your best spell. How would you assess your two years at Udinese?
Carsten Jancker: It was very difficult and not a good time for me. At first I did not play well and then everything went wrong.
Goal.com: What exactly? Two goals in two years is of course a very meagre tally, right?
Carsten Jancker: Of course. But it must be remembered that I also had a pubic bone inflammation. Because of this persistent injury I was out for over half a year. After my streaky performance in my early days, it became very difficult to regain a foothold.
Goal.com: After such a great career, that's an undignified exit from the big stage.
Carsten Jancker: Well, it was just a very difficult time. The injury problems and my poor games meant that I was never really happy at Udinese.
Goal.com: What do you have to say about Miroslav Klose?
Carsten Jancker: He looks good. He has quickly found his way into the team and scored goals for Lazio.
Goal.com: After Italy, you went to Kaiserslautern for two years and then to Shanghai Shenhua in the Far East. How was your time there?
Carsten Jancker: It's a completely different world, I was only there for half a year. These were some interesting months.
Goal.com: Why China? Was the money decisive?
Carsten Jancker: Obviously there was a good offer. In sporting terms, no one could know exactly what to expect. But I did not find my old form, so I went back to Austria after only six months.
Goal.com: Where your career finally ended. Could you eventually return to be a coach in the Bundesliga?
Carsten Jancker: I do not know. Right now I would say that it does not look to be so. I've completed my coaching qualifications and am now the youth coordinator at Rapid Wien. I also must honestly say that my family now takes precedence. My wife has always travelled with me and it was clear that we would eventually return to Wien. It's our home.
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