Discussions as an investor: Kahn is thinking about returning: “Next Step” Bordeaux?

Is this Oliver Kahn’s “Big Bang”? A possible engagement of the former world-class goalkeeper at the collapsed traditional French club Girondins Bordeaux could at least be considered a “next step”. Kahn, the former “titan” and failed CEO of FC Bayern Munich, is said to be interested in taking over the club where Zinédine Zidane became a star in the 1990s.

According to the French newspaper “Sud Ouest”, which relies on several sources, the former president of Olympique Marseille, Jacques-Henri Eyraud, is said to have made initial contacts with Girondins owner Gérard Lopez on behalf of Kahn in December. The first exchange was positive, but the matter is not yet concrete.

Discussions “in the early stages”

Lopez, once boss of the Formula 1 team Lotus, has been looking for investors for some time to save the traditional club. Another appointment is scheduled for January 21st at the commercial court in Bordeaux, where the future of the club will be discussed. In the worst case scenario, there is a risk of legal liquidation.

“The discussions about a possible entry into Girondins de Bordeaux are in the early stages. There is nothing more to say at this point,” confirmed Kahn, three-time world goalkeeper, to the “Bild” newspaper.

“Big Bang”? “Creation moment”?

Actually, the 55-year-old almost said a bit too much. Because more than a year and a half after the painful separation from FC Bayern, Kahn “prefers to talk about things when they are ready,” as he has recently noted again and again.

But it doesn’t hurt to stay in conversation if you still have a lot planned. The “Spiegel” wrote in a profile about Kahn last year that he wanted to follow the bang that was his dismissal with a “big bang”, a “creation moment” or “The Next Step”.

His time on the board of the German soccer record champions left its mark. After his five-star career as a (national) goalkeeper, including 14 formative years in Munich, Kahn became a TV expert, speaker and entrepreneur. The then Bayern patrons Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge then found in him the supposedly perfect candidate to lead FC Bayern into a time after Hoeneß and Rummenigge.

Kahn remained CEO in Munich for almost two years – until that Bayern earthquake at Pentecost 2023. At the highly emotional championship final in Cologne at the end of May, Kahn, who was highly emotional as a player, was not even welcome as a guest in the stands. At the time, he rejected “the claim” that he freaked out when he was “informed” of his removal.

Kahn’s motto: Shake and get up

A number of unpleasant things were said back then. From both sides. Hoeneß temporarily described Kahn’s employment as a mistake, complained about a “catastrophically bad atmosphere” in the club and later even questioned his work ethic. You can’t get more waddle for a titan.

“After this very difficult time, I had to shake myself,” Kahn later admitted. So he did what he always did when he was a player: shake himself and get up again.

“Uli also said that Bitcoin will fall to zero”

With some distance, Kahn was also able to look back on Hoeneß’ statements in a relaxed manner. “Uli is always emotional and says a lot of things here and there. But Uli also said that Bitcoin is falling to zero,” Kahn remarked smugly in “Doppelpass” before the turn of the year. Translated, this means: Hoeneß is not always right. Sometimes his assessment is even far off the mark.

Kahn has repeatedly mentioned in the past that he dreams of owning a football club. Because he wants to continue to contribute his expertise. But in Bordeaux he would have to do some development work. The six-time French champion, who lost the UEFA Cup final against FC Bayern with Kahn in the goal in 1996 with players like Zidane and Bixente Lizarazu, had to face forced relegation to the fourth-tier National 2 after insolvency in the summer.

The club, which has debts of more than 100 million euros, is in fourth place. But maybe that’s exactly the challenge Kahn needs: something to shake and get up.