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The Week in Germany: Sports

June 22, 2007

German Soccer: Bayern Throws Money at a Big Problem

Coming off their worst season in 12 years, former German League champions Bayern Munich are sparing no expense to revamp their squad. But amid all the high-profile signings the question is: can the club spend its way out of the current slump?

The southern German giants have shelled out 57 million euros ($74 million) thus far this summer to bring in international stars like Italian striker Luca Toni and French midfielder Frank Ribery. It's a change in strategy for a team that has previously been known as much for its relative parsimony, compared with clubs like Chelsea or Real Madrid, as for its success.

In terms of quality, there can be no arguing with bringing a Toni or a Ribery. The Italian scored 47 goals over the past two seasons for Fiorentina in Serie A, while the Frenchman helped lead the équipe tricolore to the World Cup finals last year.

And if Bayern get their way, that illustrious duo will be joined by Germany's best striker, Miroslav Klose, who's in the final year of his contract with Werder Bremen.

The prospect of fielding a new and improved Bayern with that trio has Commercial Manager Uli Hoeness dropping predictions of a new era of Munich dominance. But while they've collecting an impressive array of fresh talent, Bayern's bosses haven't really addressed the positions most critics feel were the weakest last year. (Deutsche Welle)

Links:

The full Deutsche Welle story at DW-WORLD.DE's soccer site

FC Bayern

Nuremberg Triumph in Cup (TWIG, June 1, 2007)

Good Sports: Bayern Munich Congratulates Stuttgart (TWIG, May 25, 2007)

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