retired_amyslack

May 15th 2002 – Heartbreak For Dortmund In Copenhagen
Dortmund suffered a heartbreaking extra time defeat at the hands of Parma in the UEFA Cup Final at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen. Brazilian striker Amoroso gave Dortmund the lead just 10 minutes into the game and the held their lead until the 69th minute when fellow Brazilian Adriano tied the scores. There was no further scoring in regulation time and the game entered extra time. With less than a minute of the first extra period remaining defender Stefano Torrisi prodded home a lose ball to give Parma a “Golden Goal” winner.


May 22nd 2002 – Madrid Self-Destruct As Bayern Win Champions League
FC Bayern lifted the Champions League trophy at Hampden Park in Glasgow with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid as the Spaniards ended the game with only 9 players on the pitch. With both Élber and Pizarro missing through injury teenager Leonhard Hass partnered Roque Santa Cruz up front and the youngster opened the scoring with just 11 minutes on the clock. The 18-year-old rose highest to get his head to a cross from Zé Roberto and score with a flicked header. Real came back strongly however and 20 minutes later winger Solari tied the scores when he latched on to a punched clearance from Oiver Kahn to shoot powerfully home. The complexion of the game changed completely when combative Madrid midfielder Patrick Vieira, signed from Arsenal for €57M at the start of the season, received his second yellow card of the game early in the second half. 10-man Real defended gallantly and managed to keep Bayern at bay. But then they received another body blow when Zinedine Zidane received his second yellow to reduce the Spaniards to 9 men. This decision produced a strong reaction from the Spaniards as they surrounded referee Ivica Modric but the verdict stood. Just two minutes later Michael Ballack scored what proved to be the winning goal when he shot home off the underside of the bar.

retired_jgirl87

Excellent story. I've just read all the exploits of Herr Bohl and his team and it makes for fine reading. I don't see too many reasons why a good follow-up season shouldn't be expected as well. :thup:

retired_amyslack

Thank you for your kind support Spav

June 7th 2002 – Bayern Dominate Awards
As the dust settles on an extraordinary season here in Germany there is no doubt that FC Bayern have established their position as one of the strongest teams in world football. Revitalised by the appointment of the unheralded Adolf Bohl at the start of this season they have dominated the domestic scene and been crowned champions of Europe. Winning 5 out of the 6 competitions that they competed in, the only empty space in the Bayern trophy cabinet is the German League Cup where they lost out early in the season to Dortmund.

As befits their magnificent achievements, many Bayern players featured highly in the annual awards. Despite missing the climax of the season with a serious groin injury striker Élber scored 39 goals in all competitions and was voted FIFA World Player of the Year, the World Footballer of the Year and the Bayern Fans Player of the Year. Club captain Oliver Kahn was hailed as both German and European Goalkeeper of the Year and Michael Tarnat won the German Defender of the Year award. Michael Ballack was placed third in the World Footballer of the Year voting, second in the German Midfielder and Player categories and was Top Scorer in the Bundesliga. Jens Jeremies took third place in the German Midfielder and Player awards whilst Sammy Kuffour was runner up in the African Footballer of the Year award. Bixente Lizarazu was second in the running for European Defender of the Year whilst Alexander Zickler not only won the European Midfielder of the Year but also finished second in the German Striker of the Year award. Finally, Adolf Bohl himself was voted German Manager of the Year.

In addition to this no fewer than 10 Bayern players are preparing to represent their countries in the forthcoming World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea. Kahn, Tarnat, Jeremies and Thomas Linke are there with Germany, Lizarazu and Willy Sagnol are in the France squad, Roque Santa Cruz is there with Paraguay, Owen Hargreaves with England and the Kovac brothers are representing Croatia.

retired_amyslack

June 27th 2002 – Germany Crash Out of World Cup
Germany have been eliminated from the World Cup as they drew all three of their group games against Saudi Arabia, Ireland and Cameroon. This disappointing performance saw them finish third in their group a point behind Cameroon.


July 11th 2002 – Bayern Sign Ehiogu
FC Bayern have announced the signing of Middlesbrough central defender Ugo Ehiogu for a fee of €13.25M. The 29-year-old England international has signed a 4-year deal with the club.


July 14th 2002 – France Lift World Cup
France, captained by FC Bayern player Bixente Lizarazu, beat Denmark 3-1 to retain the World Cup. Their goals were scored by Lilian Thuram, David Trezeguet and Johan Micoud with Henrik Pedersen replying for the Danes.


July 16th 2002 – Voller Sacked
Following his team’s poor performance in the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, Rudi Voller has been sacked as national team coach.


July 22nd 2002 – Hitzfeld Takes German Role
Former FC Bayern manager Ottmar Hitzfeld has been revealed as the new man in charge of the German national team following a brief spell at Sunderland in the English Premier League.


July 27th 2002 – What Next For Wonderful Bayern
Having completed the most successful season in their history under the guidance of an unknown and unheralded manager what does the new season have in store for FC Bayern? Well the new man has certainly thrown down the gauntlet to Germany and the rest of Europe as his team are now the one to beat. Is there any way that they can maintain the brilliance that they displayed last season as they powered their way past all-comers? With manager Adolf Bohl as reticent as ever it falls to club President Franz Beckenbauer to comment. “There is no doubt that it will be very difficult for the club to perform at the same level as we did last season. At times our play was simply irresistible and it is not possible to keep playing like that all of the time. But I am confident that we will rise to the challenge and no one will find us an easy team to beat”. When asked about the club’s very modest outlay in the transfer market he responded as follows. “Herr Bohl is at liberty to bring in additional players as he sees fit and our scouting staff is always looking our for new talent. But you only have to look at the players at our disposal to see that it is far from easy to identify many who are better and will give us more strength.” So overall the President seems confident, the players are in a buoyant mood and the fans can’t wait for the new season to begin. But this writer can’t help thinking that having scaled such heights as they did last season that this year can only be something of an anticlimax.

retired_amyslack

[b]August 1st 2002 - Bohl In Shock Retirement Announcement.[\b]

FC Bayern manager Adolf Bohl dropped a bombshell yesterday when he announced his retirement from football. After having led his team to unprecedented success, both domestically and in Europe, his decision to step down has left the club and its supporters speechless. The man himself has declined to explain his actions, leaving an information vacuum that is being filled by wild speculations. However, the most prevelant theory is that Bohl was a "one-hit wonder" and having made virtually a clean sweep in all competitions last season he has decided to leave at the top before he is found out for what he is. Whatever his reasons there is no doubt that the name of Adolf Bohl will live long in the memory of all who hold FC Bayern dear and his successor will have a hard act to follow.