Farewell flowers
Kraft, Ottl and Altintop say 'goodbye'
13.05.2011
The final match of the season at the Allianz Arena, and Bayern might be able to reach second place in the league table after all, if they win against southern neighbours and rivals VfB Stuttgart. But before the match kicks off, the nation’s most successful club will be saying some farewells, as three players are definitely moving on at the end of the season. The FCB executive board will officially say goodbye before the match.
After seven years at the Säbener Strasse, Thomas Kraft is leaving Bayern to join newly-promoted Bundesliga outfit Hertha BSC Berlin for the coming season. “I can understand that Thomas Kraft’s goal is to be a first-choice goalkeeper, but we can't give him that guarantee," director of sport Christian Nerlinger commented after the 21-year-old keeper announced his decision not to renew his contract.
But Kraft will not be the only man receiving applause and a fabulous bouquet of flowers on Saturday. Hamit Altintop also plans to leave the club. “This season, Hamit only played three games from the start. He feels that's not enough, and we understand and respect his decision. It was Hamit's request not to renew his contract at the end of the season.", said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on the subject of the 28-year-old Turkish national player.
Altintop left Schalke 04 In the summer of 2007 to join FCB and made 63 Bundesliga appearances (7 goals) for Munich. A number of injuries in the past three years restricted the midfield all-rounder’s playing time. He won the domestic double in 2008 and 2010, and featured in the final of this year's UEFA Champions League. It is currently unknown where Altintop plans to play in the future.
The future of Andreas Ottl is also undecided. The home-grown Bavarian midfielder has played for Bayern since 1996, interrupted briefly by a six-month loan spell for Nürnberg during the second half of last season. The 26-year-old defensive midfielder has three championship titles and three DFB cup triumphs to his name, and has made 91 Bundesliga appearances (5 goals) for FCB.
http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2011/29451.php?fcb_sid=9f8b2782e00faebff1835ae8d2453905
