Uli Hoeneß credits himself with half of Lennart Karl’s recent goals, drawing a direct line between his public criticism and the young forward’s on-field response.
The FC Bayern honorary president claimed a share of credit in a television interview, days after Karl scored twice following calls for more humility from the club legend.
The connection was made by Hoeneß during an appearance on the BR talk show “Sonntags-Stammtisch,” BR reported. Karl, 18, has scored two goals since Hoeneß publicly admonished him in a “Welt am Sonntag” interview, including a Champions League opener against Atlético Madrid and a Bundesliga strike against Mainz 05.
“I believe that 50 percent of his goals in recent days were my involvement, because someone said something about his private life,” Hoeneß said with a smile, as quoted by Sport Bild. The 74-year-old framed his remarks as both a joke and a serious statement about his role as a mentor to Bayern’s young talents.
The Bayern icon sees it as his duty to guide young players through the pressures of professional football. “We are obligated to give young players the path. I have so much experience, and if an 18-year-old doesn’t take something else from me, then we have to stop,” he explained, according to sportschau.de. This philosophy, he said, requires experienced figures to offer guidance when it is needed.
After a dip in form, his match-winner against Atlético Madrid was marked by a defiant celebration. He held his hands to his ears and made speaking gestures, an apparent retort to the public criticism he had received, n-tv.de noted. He followed it up by scoring the second goal in Bayern’s 2-1 win over Mainz.
Off the field, Karl has been a figure of discussion. His “glamorous lifestyle,” including pink outfits and social media posts with his influencer girlfriend Zoe Käppele, has drawn attention, SPOX.com reported. This public profile has been a source of friction, with some within the club concerned by the distractions it may present.
Hoeneß views social media as a dangerous influence on young players, calling the “influencer stuff” a “pig world” and the “biggest problem,” sportschau.de reported. He believes clubs have a responsibility to "bring young players down a bit," especially those without the experience to handle external pressures.
This stance has drawn a counter-argument from figures like Dietmar Hamann. The Sky expert defended Karl, saying, “Now we have waited ten years for someone who is different. Now we have one and we try to turn him around,” SPOX.com reported. “Let the boy be and stay as he is,” he urged.
Karl’s agent, Michael Ballack, also pushed back against the public criticism. While acknowledging Hoeneß’s right to comment on his client’s off-field behavior, Ballack condemned turning the 18-year-old “into a public target,” SPOX.com stated.
With his recent form, Karl has earned a call-up to the German national team for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, n-tv.de reported.
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