Harry Kane on how he won the Ballon d'Or at Bayern Munich and the impact of José Mourinho on his playing style
Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has spoken to Sport Bild about how his move to the Bundesliga champions put him on the path to winning the Ballon d'Or and how coaches like Mauricio Pochettino and José Mourinho shaped his development.
The England captain, who has hit an astonishing 102 Bundesliga goals in 103 appearances since joining Bayern in summer 2023 said: "Moving to Bayern was a major step in my career, and for my family as well. I wanted to challenge myself and discover what level I could potentially reach.
"Since joining the club, the reception we’ve experienced has been truly incredible. The support I received from the club, the staff, the coach, and my teammates - especially around the time of the Ballon d’Or - was something very special. I couldn’t have won the Ballon d’Or without them."
Watch: Kane: 'I'm at the best place possible'
Kane, who recently extended his contract at Bayern until 2029, also discussed the influences on his distinct playing style, saying: "Back in my youth days at Tottenham, I played in midfield and in various other positions. As I began to feature more regularly for the first team under Mauricio Pochettino, he saw me as a number nine because I was scoring goals and constantly making runs in behind the defensive line.
"When José Mourinho arrived, he took my game to another level, in part by giving me a great deal of freedom. I knew that my passing was one of my greatest strengths and that, by dropping deeper, I could handle the ball effectively even when under pressure."
Watch: All Kane's assists so far in 26/27
With an equally incredible 37 goals from 42 UEFA Champions League appearances for the Bundesliga champions, Kane was clear about his ambitions in the continent’s top competition, saying: "I have always said that my aim is to win the Champions League with Bayern. Winning it with this team would be a truly special feeling."
England’s record goalscorer and the leading scorer in three consecutive Bundesliga seasons is set to terrorise defences in Germany again when Cologne visit the Allianz Arena to open Matchday 10 on Friday 20 November (kick-off 8.30pm CET).
