Hermann “Tiger” Gerland and Thomas Müller share tight relationship built at Bayern Munich

With former Bayern Munich assistant coach Hermann “Tiger” Gerland having just retired, former club star Thomas Müller was recently asked about his relationship with the longtime member of Bayern’s coaching staff.

“The ‘Tiger’ and I have developed a relationship that goes far beyond football. We know and appreciate each other. I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude lately. Of course, there are many coaches and people I have to thank. Hermann Gerland, for example. Or Louis van Gaal – I’m glad I had the pleasure of playing and training under him. But it’s fair to say that there were also good reasons why I played a lot under him: He tried out different configurations back then – and it worked best with me,” Muller told Bayern munich club magazine Säbener51.

Obviously, the timing for Gerland to retire, while Müller sorts out his own future is a coincidence, but it is hard to think about where Bayern Munich might be without either of those two men.