Willy’s heart belongs to the Säbener Strasse

By: Angela | February 3rd, 2009

The official announcement has come and Willy Sagnol has retired.

“That’s the end. The pain is too great for me to continue playing. It’s something I have to accept. I’m devastated and it’s hard to take. I’d always dreamed it would end differently, and I’d have liked to keep playing for at least another few years. I’ve tried everything in recent weeks, but the doctors are unanimous: I can’t go on.”

Sagnol is just 31 years old and has been with Bayern for eight and a half seasons. In that time, he has assembled an impressive collection of medals and victories. Among them are World Club Cup, Champions League, five Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cup triumphs, and the DFL League Cup three times.

Willy will be missed by fans, team mates and administration. He was a great player for Bayern and it is a sad time for him and the fans that have followed him so closely. Willy and his family will stay in Munich for awhile before relocating to the south of France where he hopes to find a job managing a team. I don’t think that will be so hard for him. Bayern hope to give him a send off in May with a huge celebration of another championship as well.

And what does Willy think about the whole thing? Well, his heart belongs to Munich.

“I’ve had close on nine wonderful years at Bayern, and a very special relationship with the fans. I’ll definitely be at the Allianz Arena a couple more times in the coming months. The Säbener Strasse was home to me. I’m leaving now, but my heart’s still here.”

Category: Team News

Tags: Retirement, Team News, Willy Sagnol

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Comments  

• Luke |  February 3rd, 2009 at 8:51 pm

  
  
  

  Well, I’m still going put on my ol 00-01′ Sagnol Trikot a couple more times before the end of the season. I guess we’ve covered this topic in some comments and posts, and it was no surprise this news came down. Willy represents the last link with the triumphant 2001 Champions League winning-squad, the group that made so many of us take notice. I also feel that it’s really easy to underestimate Willy’s contributions, simply because he enabled so many thrilling finishes, and we could all be forgiven for marveling at Elber or Makaay or whoever it was, and forget who supplied the cross. I also always appreciated that Sagnol was the kind of nasty guy that other sides really wouldn’t want to go up against. There was a certain physicality to Bayern’s play early in the decade, and that has drained off through the years, although Sagnol never really lightened up–perhaps he passes the torch to Van Bommel for now where that’s concerned. So, Servus, Willy!

  Posted from United States

  

• victor |  February 3rd, 2009 at 10:37 pm

  
  
  

  what a devastating loss for Willy himself, Bayern and France. He was one of my favorite players, who I thought was irreplaceable in Bayern’s defence. It’s just not the same anymore without those crosses which just seem to go straight to the box. Imagine if it was still Sagnol crossing to Toni or Klose… Van Bommel might be the captain, but Sagnol has been the real servant.

  But we must accept his decision to retire and escape the pain. Sad to see him retire like this. Hope he has a great farewell “game”, ala Mehmet Scholl.

  Merci, Willy! Danke, Willy!

  Posted from Australia

  

• jocamryn |  February 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 pm

  
  
  

  I agree, sory to see Willy go like this.

  ** Am I the only one who watched the HSV game? Not a peep here about it.

  Posted from Germany

  

• Chris |  February 4th, 2009 at 7:25 am

  
  
  

  Willy was my favorite player for Bayern. Sad to see him go out like this. He will be missed.

  Posted from United States

  

• Harry |  February 4th, 2009 at 11:04 am

  
  
  

  Goodbye, farewell Willy, I hope you’ll have wonderful years as a manager, too.

  Posted from Hungary

  

• A Kap |  February 4th, 2009 at 7:01 pm

  
  
  

  I saw the HSV game too Jocamryn. Good to see Lucio grit it out, but I’d say Bayern lost only because of sheer luck and a ref who should have been substituted, as Willy once remarked…

  Good luck Willy! You will be missed!

  Posted from United States

  

• Wayne |  February 5th, 2009 at 2:37 am

  
  
  

  Sorry to see such a good player’s career end in this manner.

  Posted from Ireland

  

• jocamryn |  February 9th, 2009 at 9:05 am

  
  
  

  HOPE this is true!!

  Ze Roberto Wants To Stay At Bayern Munich For Another Year

  http://www.goal.com/en/news/592/bayern-munich/2009/02/09/1101226/ze-roberto-wants-to-stay-at-bayern-munich-for-another-year

  Posted from Germany

  

• Juliet |  February 9th, 2009 at 3:06 pm

  
  
  

  Very sorry that such a good player has been stopped too soon.

  Posted from United States

  

• jocamryn |  February 10th, 2009 at 10:18 pm

  
  
  

  Ewww! And we thought the red and white stripes looked bad 2 years ago!

  http://www.footballshirtculture.com/09/10-kits/bayern-munich-2009-10-home-adidas-football-kit.html

  Posted from Germany

  

• Roger |  February 11th, 2009 at 11:08 am

  
  
  

  thanks for years of good service Willy! Best of luck in whatever you do in life and may you begin to feel better soon.

  Joc, I have not commented on hamburg game because i am still trying to figure out how that idiot linesman had toni offsides… point was stolen from us.

  Posted from United States

  

• Roger |  February 11th, 2009 at 11:13 am

  
  
  

  The most disturbing news this week though is the hawks of Europe are starting to circle around Ribery. Hopefully we will keep him.

  Posted from United States

  

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