The wait is nearly over for Harry Kane. By Saturday afternoon he could be crowned as a title winner, meaning that after 16 years as a professional, he will finally get his hands on silverware.
Kane joined Bayern Munich in August 2023 after a record-breaking but trophyless spell at Tottenham. He had plundered goals – 280 of them in 435 appearances – but, at the age of 30, felt the time had come for something new. Something new and a better shot at winning trophies.
“This club is defined by its winning mentality,” Kane said upon signing a four-year contract after an £86million transfer. Unfortunately for him and the team, that winning mentality did not materialise during his debut campaign.
His first season ended up becoming the first one since 2011/12 in which Bayern did not win the Bundesliga as Bayer Leverkusen upset the applecart. They also suffered embarrassment in the German Cup against third-tier FC Saarbrucken and suffered a late heartbreak in their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
While a wholly different experience, it had an air of familiarity from his time at Spurs: bundles of goals, but no silverware. Kane banged in 44 goals in 45 appearances and won the Bundesliga’s Golden Shoe for 36 efforts in the league but was left trophyless.
“There is a real hunger and desire that burns inside to make sure that the next time you get there or the next big competition, you have a different outcome,” Kane said last summer while reflecting on the Real defeat. “That’s the way I always look at it.”
That hunger and desire has been there that season and Kane is one game away from the Bundesliga title. Vincent Kompany’s side are eight points clear of Leverkusen with three games remaining, meaning a win away to Leipzig will seal the title.
That’s the good news. But it is tinged with some bad news for Kane.
Bayern may well win the title this weekend. But if they do, Kane won’t be involved, having been handed a one-game suspension for picking up his fifth yellow of the season for time-wasting in their 3-0 victory over Mainz on the weekend.
“First of all, I think it’s an insane decision,” Kane fumed. “It’s never a yellow card. Unfortunately, sometimes people come to the Allianz Arena and try to make a name for themselves.
“That’s why I’m really disappointed that I got the yellow card, because of course I knew I already had four. And secondly, I think the rule is crazy anyway. Five yellow cards in 34 games means a suspension.
“Crazy, crazy decision. It’s kind of my story that I’ll miss the Leipzig game. But no worries, I’ll celebrate more than anyone else.”
Kane will have to watch on in east Germany on Saturday afternoon, but he can at least rest easy over the Golden Shoe, with his tally of 24 five ahead of Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick.
Kane has been a prolific and consistent goalscorer throughout his career. He has captained Tottenham and England, pulling out more than his fair share of memorable performances, and yet the lack of trophies has stalked him for his entire career, having played in five finals for club and country without winning.
Much of it comes from Arsenal fans, who use the fact as a stick to beat one of Tottenham’s greatest ever players. But there is a widespread feeling among football supporters that, in order to be considered truly great, Kane needs to prove himself in the biggest competitions and bring his team success.
The man himself has tried to play down the criticism and focus on playing, but there is no doubt it has impacted his mentality. But, speaking last month, Kane explained what he really wants his legacy to be when he retires.
“I looked at the greats of the game and what made them great, and it wasn’t just doing it in spells: it was doing it year after year,” he told ESPN.
“That was a big drive of mine to be able to consistently be one of the best players in the world. And that drive will be with me until the end of my career, whether I finish with one trophy or 20 trophies. Ultimately, it won’t change my mindset, what I want to achieve and how I try and achieve it.”
He feels that, having moved to Bayern and continued to score goals – he now has 80 goals in 89 games in all competitions for the club – he gets the respect he deserves, regardless of trophies.
“I’d say from an outside point of view, I’m probably respected more as one of the top strikers in the world,” he said in June. “When you’re at a club like Bayern Munich, that comes if you have a great season. Similar to Real Madrid, Barcelona and all the top, top clubs around the world.”
Kane has enjoyed a “great season”. But there is no doubt that adding a trophy to it will mean so much more after years of having to defend his record.
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