Fans say Harry Kane is ‘officially cursed’ as Bayern Munich end season trophyless for first time in 12 YEARS
FANS have declared that Harry Kane is “officially cursed” after Bayern Munich ended their season trophyless for the first time in 12 YEARS.
England captain Kane joined the German giants last summer in a £104million transfer from Tottenham.
However, despite Kane having another impressive individual season which has seen him score 44 goals and add 12 assists in all competitions, he has still been unable to end his trophyless run.
Kane, 30, tasted defeat in his first game for the Bavarians as they lost to RB Leipzig in the DFL-Supercup.
There was more woe for the team in the DFB-Pokal in November as Bayern were stunned by third-division minnows Saarbrücken – who went on to make the semi-final.
Since then Bayer Leverkusen, who had previously never won the Bundesliga, claimed the title with matches to spare.
And that came despite one of Kane’s team-mates, Kingsley Coman, previously having his own omen of winning the league title every year since 2013 with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern.
That left the Champions League as the last chance for Kane to get his hands on some silverware.
A penalty from Kane in the first leg helped Bayern to a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid.
The second leg saw Kane and Co under the cosh for some time before Alphonso Davies lashed home an opener for the Gemans in the 68th minute after a brilliant over the top pass from Kane to assist him.
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However, just two minutes from the end of regulation time and after Kane had been subbed off, Manuel Neuer – who had otherwise been superb across both legs – spilled an easy shot from Vinicius Jr.
This allowed super sub Joselu to poke home an equaliser.
Then three minutes later the Stoke and Newcastle flop was at it again as he expertly tapped home an Antonio Rudiger cross to send Los Blancos through to the Champions League final at Wembley.
During his time at Spurs and with the Three Lions Kane – whose heartbreaking reaction to Real’s goal was caught on camera – has had some near misses.
This has included missing out on the Premier League title to Leicester in 2015/16, losing the Champions League in 2019 to Liverpool following a controversial penalty call and losing the Euro 2020 final in the shootout to Italy.
Fans could not help but highlight Kane’s so-called “curse” after his elimination confirmed another year without silverware for him.
One fan shared a picture of Kane and said: “Bayern Munich are going to go without a trophy for the first time since 2011/12. This man is officially cursed.”
A second said: “He is not cursed he IS the curse.”
Another said: “Harry Kane tax.”
A fourth said: “The Kane curse is so real now.. it’s no longer a joke.. what will he have to do to win a trophy?? I feel bad for him.”
Bayern's 12 year trophy haul
Here's the trophies Bayern Munich have won in every season since their last year barren season in 2011/12.
2012/13: Bundesliga, German Super Cup, DFB-Pokal, Champions League
2013/14: Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup
2014/15: Bundesliga
2015/16: Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal
2016/17: Bundesliga, German Super Cup
2017/18: Bundesliga, German Super Cup
2018/19: Bundesliga, German Super Cup
2019/20: Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League
2020/21: Bundesliga, German Super Cup, Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup
2021/22: Bundesliga, German Super Cup
2022/23: Bundesliga, German Super Cup
A fifth added: “It’s real. It’s damn real.”
Kane and co felt they should have had the opportunity to play extra time after Matthijs de Ligt shot the ball into the net in the 12th minute of injury time after an INCORRECT offside call that would have been overturned by VAR.
However, since the whistle had already gone before the shot had happened, the referee could not bring the play back to allow the goal.
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel – who fans joked had passed his Manchester United audition amid reports of him going to Old Trafford – described the call as a “disaster” that was “against the rules”.
Dutchman De Ligt claimed in his post-match interview the linesman had apologised for “making a mistake”
He told beIN Sports: “”This is a shame. The linesman said to me ‘I’m sorry I made a mistake’.
“In the end, I’m not the type of person who wants to blame the loss or win on the referee so Madrid deserves to win because they won 2-1.
“But I think, if it’s a rule, it’s a rule and that’s the only thing I can say about it.”
On the upside, if Bayern Munich’s last trophyless season is anything to go by, Kane could well be in for a trophy glut next season.
And some England fans believe his curse could end at the Euros, joking: “He will get his trophy this summer, it’s coming home.”
This one will have stung Kane the most... what's the German for schadenfreude?, says Dave Kidd
By Dave Kidd
OF all the trophies Harry Kane has missed out on, the Bundesliga will have stung the most.
This was supposed to have been a dead cert. This was nailed-on.
Bayern Munich had won 11 successive Bundesliga titles, so when the England captain signed for the great Bavarian powerhouse last summer, we all said: “Well, at least he’ll finally win something.”
Yet on Sunday evening, there were Bayer Leverkusen — known in Germany as ‘Neverkusen’ because they hadn’t previously won the league thanks to several late implosions — cavorting around, 16 points clear, unbeaten in all competitions and confirmed as champions with five games to spare.
And so the greatest trophy curse in footballing history continues.
And this one really is freakish because Leverkusen’s story is almost as extraordinary as Leicester City’s miracle title in 2015-16 — the season when Kane won his first Premier League Golden Boot and Tottenham ended up ‘third in a two-horse race’ behind Arsenal.
Kane is always the runner-up, always the nearly man, always the fall guy, too often a figure of fun for those taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.
Does anyone know the German word for schadenfreude…?
Read Dave Kidd’s column in full.
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