Markus Babbel critical of Uli Hoeneß’s current involvement with Bayern Munich

Former Bayern Munich defender Markus Babbel has publicly criticized honorary club president Uli Hoeneß, stating that Hoeneß's inconsistent involvement and public comments are negatively affecting the club. Babbel, known for his outspoken views, believes Hoeneß must decide between fully recommitting to an active role or stepping away completely, rather than occasionally making disruptive statements.

Babbel expressed confusion over Hoeneß's current stance, acknowledging Hoeneß's past pivotal role in Bayern's success but emphasizing that times have changed. He criticized Hoeneß's pattern of intermittently "pulling one out" (making unsolicited remarks), arguing this approach is unsustainable and harms the club. Babbel stated, "He has to decide: either he gets fully involved again... or he steps away completely."

Babbel pointed to Bayern's recent transfer difficulties—such as missing out on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool and Jamal Musiala's injury—as evidence supporting his critique. He argued that the club's recurring shortcomings in crucial sporting decisions are not coincidental but reflect deeper issues exacerbated by leadership ambiguity.

While acknowledging the complexity of transfers (especially for top players) and noting that Hoeneß historically opposed exorbitant spending, Babbel maintained that Hoeneß's public interventions create negative optics. He described Hoeneß's legacy as a "double-edged sword," as the media constantly seeks his opinions despite his unofficial role, amplifying the impact of his unrestrained comments.