Jamal Musiala, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Tanguy Nianzou, Chris Richards and Tiago Dantas (clockwise from top left) all have bright futures ahead of them at Bayern Munich. - © DFL
Jamal Musiala, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Tanguy Nianzou, Chris Richards and Tiago Dantas (clockwise from top left) all have bright futures ahead of them at Bayern Munich. - © DFL
bundesliga

Bayern Munich's next generation: Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, Dayot Upamecano and Co

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The recent past and present have belonged to Bayern Munich, but the future is also looking promising for the record champions, who have set themselves up smartly for another decade of success with the likes of Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and inbound defender Dayot Upamecano.

Thomas Müller and David Alaba are on the cusp of becoming the most decorated players in Bundesliga history with their tenth(!) league titles, taking them one clear of Franck Ribery. But just as Bayern have successfully moved on from their seemingly inimitable Ribery and Arjen Robben era, there are many good reasons why the club's next generation can be equally triumphant.

bundesliga.com looks at who could continue Bayern's legacy in years to come...

Alphonso Davies (20, two Bundesliga titles)

Davies already has two Bundesliga titles to his name, and if he adds a third in the coming weeks he will be two years younger than Alaba was when he reached that same landmark back in 2014. The Canadian extended his contract with the Bavarians until 2025 just a year ago and simply by seeing out his current term, he could potentially reach seven Bundesliga titles. Not that he is expected to leave it at that.

Watch: Davies - Bayern Munich's two-world star

Since bursting onto the scene – quite literally, earning the nickname 'the roadrunner' from Müller – Davies has given Bayern a lethal new weapon down the left wing. The first to admit he could still improve defensively, showing a maturity which belied his age, Davies has worked hard on that aspect of his game and become increasingly reliable at both ends of the pitch. Add that to Bayern's already admirable armoury and further titles look pre-programmed for Davies.

Jamal Musiala (18, no Bundesliga titles)

Two years younger than Davies, Musiala – Bayern's all-time youngest goalscorer in the Bundesliga – is on the verge of earning his first Bundesliga title, and you would be either bold or barmy to bet against him picking up many more in his career. If Davies' potential for a record-breaking haul of Bundesliga titles looked impressive, then Musiala's is at least equally inspiring, especially as the Stuttgart-born attacking midfielder looks increasingly likely to hold down a regular starting berth next season. "He can dribble past a defender in the tightest of spaces," said Bayern coach Hansi Flick, who like many was left in awe by the young German's goal against Wolfsburg, in which he left Yannick Gerhardt, Maxence Lacroix and Kevin Mbabu for dead en route to beating Koen Casteels.

Watch: Müller on Musiala: "He can do magical things"

He penned his first professional contract only in March, committing himself to Bayern until 2026. "What an amazing feeling!" he proclaimed as the ink dried. Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and his designated successor Oliver Kahn could be forgiven for having an equally amazing feeling to have secured the future of one of the game's most talented players. With his dazzling dribbling skills and a combined vision and anticipation that even Müller would be proud of, Bayern can expect similar magic from Musiala to that which they have become accustomed with Müller.

Dayot Upamecano (22, no Bundesliga titles)

Upamecano has some catching up to do when he arrives from RB Leipzig in the summer, but given his blistering pace – a rarity among such physically strong central defenders – he could quickly discover what it is like to celebrate winning the Bundesliga. It is no coincidence that Leipzig boast the meanest defence this season, conceding considerably fewer goals than Bayern, and with the Bavarians' attack already in the most reliable hands in the game, by strengthening their defence with Upamecano, they now have enviable options at both ends of the field.

Despite still being just 22, Upamecano already has five seasons worth of experience in the Bundesliga, during which he has provided the bedrock upon which Leipzig have built the five most successful campaigns of their history. The France international has also already appeared 20 times in the UEFA Champions League, including one in the semi-final of Europe's elite club competition. Having frequently been within a sniff of silverware, Upamecano seems certain to develop a feel for titles when he pulls on a Bayern shirt from next season, and his youth stands him in very good stead to need a much larger trophy cabinet than any Swedish furniture maker could design.

Chris Richards (21, one Bundesliga title)

Another member of the Bayern defence in the very near future is currently honing his skills at Hoffenheim, readying him for a return to Bavaria as the finished product – and the early signs are he will be quite some addition. Richards is set to collect his second Bundesliga winner's medal this season, having played three times for the record champions before his winter move to Hoffenheim, where he has been a first-team regular under Sebastian Hoeneß – the man who launched his career in Bayern's U19s.

In fact, the three-time USA international has missed just one match since moving to Hoeneß's side, with an injury forcing him out of the 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund. "I didn't play too much at Bayern, so that's why I came here and the level is just as big here," he told bundesliga.com. "I'm really happy with how this loan’s going. I want to be where I’m going to play week in, week out, so that’s just what I'm hoping for this next season." That could be back at Bayern, going in pursuit of another Bundesliga title.

Tiago Dantas (20, no Bundesliga titles)

With his low centre of gravity, quick turns and laser-sighted distribution, Dantas bears more than a passing resemblance to his namesake Thiago Alcantara, who left Bayern for Liverpool last summer after hoovering up seven Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cups and a UEFA Champions League for good measure. Should all go according to plan - and Dantas has only joined on an initial loan deal from Benfica - those are the sort of statistics the Portuguese can aspire to as he looks to emulate Thiago both in style and success.

Although yet to make the breakthrough into the Bayern first team, the Bavarians have high hopes for Tiago Dantas. - Matthias Koch/Matthias Koch/Pool

Tanguy Nianzou (18, no Bundesliga titles)

"I want to be a leader," were among the first words Tanguy Nianzou uttered after joining Bayern from Paris Saint-Germain in summer 2020. Such a proclamation from somebody who had just turned 17 speaks volumes about the confidence levels of Bayern's young French defender, who is in line to receive his first Bundesliga title by virtue of a handful of outings in Flick's team this term. It is this confidence that stands Nianzou in good stead to realise that ambition and lead Bayern into the next decade.

Tanguy Nianzou is considered as one of the most talented young defenders on the planet. - Philippe Ruiz via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Philippe Ruiz

With the support of compatriot Upamecano, it should not be too long before Nianzou is getting a regular game in the Bundesliga, and PSG's former assistant coach Zsolt Löw could not speak more highly of a player he regards as "the biggest talent I've ever seen".