While delighted with the title wrap, FC Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer stressed the importance of keeping celebrations low-key for the moment
While delighted with the title wrap, FC Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer stressed the importance of keeping celebrations low-key for the moment

"Great passion and classy football!"

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Frankfurt - The praise has been bounteous in the wake of FC Bayern Munich wrapping up their 22nd Bundesliga title, and 23rd German championship all-told, in record time. Here's an overview of some of the plaudits raining down on the freshly-crowned champs from near and far, as well as reactions from the Bayern camp itself:

FC Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes: "My first championship as a player was certainly the most emotional experience I've had, but this moment is fantastic, too. The players got the reward for their hard work. To win the Meisterschaft 28 games into the season is extraordinary, super. It's quite emotional to lead a team to the title again after 23 years."

Bayern president Uli Hoeneß: "This title is very special after Dortmund gave us the needle in the previous two years, it's a fantastic achievement. We'll have a glass of champagne on our flight back and then set our sights on Wednesday [when Bayern face Juventus in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg]. Our aim is to win the Champions League."

Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer: "We enjoy being champions, but we can't afford to go all crazy for two days. We [when playing for Borussia Dortmund] won the Champions League in 1997 because Juventus had been celebrating clinching the domestic title before. We should be happy and behave appropriately."

Bayern skipper Philipp Lahm: "We were keen on securing the title today. We'll have one or two beers, for sure, but we're already beginning to focus on Wednesday. There's still a long way to go and we have big plans."

Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger: "Our first aim was to clinch the Bundesliga title, but I've never won it in such dominant fashion."

Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp: "Bayern Munich have been doing everything right this season. They've been playing an incredible season, possibly the most incredible in football's history. Congratulations, from the bottom of my heart! I hope we manage to close the gap on them a bit next year."

Dortmund executive director Hans-Joachim Watzke: "Congratulations to FC Bayern! They've been playing an outstanding season and totally deserve to be champions."

DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach: "Congratulations and a huge compliment to Bayern Munich. I was there when they suffered the massive disappointments of losing the two finals [in the DFB Cup and Champions League last season] and can only doff my hat to the club and Jupp Heynckes in particular for overcoming those setbacks and forming a great side."

Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf: "Congratulations. Bayern have been playing a great campaign and thoroughly deserve the title."

VfL Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs: "There were early signs this season that they would tak the title, although no one would have expected them to wrap it up quite so quickly. Bayern have a great side. We'll try to achieve the impossible when we face them [in the semi-final of the DFB Cup]."

Eintracht Frankfurt coach Armin Veh: "They well deserve it! They've been playing a wonderful season - great passion and classy football!"

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler: "Congratulations to Jupp Heynckes, his assistant Peter Hermann and the entire club! deserved champs and on top of that, the way they went about it and with such a big lead at the top. Excellent!"

US national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann: "Heartfelt congratulations to Bayern Munich. The title's their reward for a tremendous team effort over the entire season. I can't remember a team ever being so dominant, whether in Germany, Italy, France or England."

Multiple Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt: "To be champions with such a lead and so early in such a strong league, is extraordinary...I know how hard the boys have worked for this behind the scenes."