Only true hardcore fans of football can understand the heartache Bayern fans feel right now....the end of an era.....local hero, born & bred in Munich, a Bayern academy player since the age of 12, record 8 times Bundesliga winner, multiple German Cup medals, European UEFA Champions League winner, European Super Cup & World Club Champion......all achieved with Bayern in a stellar career.....
......and not to mention the small matter of his blood stained heroics for Germany in the final at Brazil FIFA World Cup.......the match that subsequently kept him out of action for many months at the beginning of last season due to injury ....and possibly played a huge part in his departure as he struggled to maintain his place in pep Guardiola's starting 11.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is Bayern Munich & Bayern Munich is Bastian Schweinsteiger! Mia San Mia runs in Schweinsteiger's blood & his departure whilst still the German National Team Captain is a momentous event in the history of the Club.
However, whilst many fans, in their moment of anguish are blaming Pep Guardiola for this, Scweinsteiger had always talked up his desire to play at another major European League before his time was up. The truth is, a combination of injuries & loss of speed always meant Schweinsteiger was going to struggle for his place in the starting line up next season.
nevertheless, I believe most Bayern fans would have liked to see him retire from football as a Bayern player rather than moving to Manchester United
Besides his blood stained face at World Cup final in 2014, there are two other moments in Scweinie's time in Bayern which will forever be indelibly stamped in the fans' minds........his anguish at hitting the post in the penalty shootout loss to Chelsea in the 2012 UCL final in Munich, and his subsequent come back to win the trophy at last in 2013 at Wembley.
As Bayern fans we salute a true Club & Country Legend & wish him all teh best in his new venture: Bastian Schweinsteiger
