Harry Kane News

Harry Kane: Bayern Munich striker on goals records, trophy hunt and mental resilience..Harry Kane was speaking to BBC Sport's Alex Howell.

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"He's better than Robert Lewandowski. No-one is thinking about Lewandowski any more."

Such has been Harry Kane's extraordinary start to life at Bayern Munich, that when BBC Sport spoke to fans of the German giants this week, it seemed as if they had already moved on from one of the club's greatest strikers.

Expectation has followed Kane since his arrival, and so too, it seems, have records. Since his move from Tottenham last August, the England captain has scored 28 goals and provided eight assists in only 27 games in all competitions.

Of those goals, 24 have come in the Bundesliga - the most scored by a player in his first 20 appearances in the league - while he also became the first player to score a hat-trick in his first Der Klassiker appearance, the match between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

Kane, 30, needs 18 more goals in the 14 games remaining to beat Poland striker Lewandowski's single-season Bundesliga record of 41.

"I'm always extremely proud to have those sort of records," Kane told BBC Sport. "It's not something I set out to do at the start but once you hear about them and once people are talking about them, it of course means you're doing something really well.

"If you'd have told me I was going to do that at the start of the year, of course I'd have taken it - so I'm really happy from that sense, but as always, we try and push and try and see how far we can get."

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Kane became the first player in Bundesliga history to score 17 goals in his first 11 Bundesliga games - passing Robert Lewandowski's 16 from the 2019-20 campaign.

Had Kane decided to stay in England, there would have been a chance for him to add the title of record Premier League goalscorer to his list of individual accolades, but he moved to Germany in search of success with a team used to winning trophies.

For 11 consecutive seasons, Bayern have been crowned Bundesliga champions - and so the German giants seemed as close to guaranteed silverware for one of the world's best strikers.

But with Bayer Leverkusen so far undefeated and two points clear at the top, there are some on social media joking about the backfiring of Kane's "safe bet" switch in search of that elusive title.

He is set to have a key role to play as Bayern face Xabi Alonso's surprise league leaders Leverkusen on Saturday in a match crucial to the title race.

Daniel, a Bayern supporter, told BBC Sport: "I think he is a great player and one of the greatest strikers of all time. He's playing differently than I expected because he helps the team a lot. Maybe I underestimated him.

"He'd better bring us some trophies! Now we have two of those Tottenham players, hopefully we won't finish second this year.

"For the league, it is more interesting. You have to appreciate the work Leverkusen are doing. Fingers crossed for Saturday and some Harry Kane goals."

Bayern have 50 points from 20 games and have only had more than that at this stage of the season in three of their 11 consecutive title-winning campaigns.

Kane added: "I've made it clear that I want to be winning team trophies and that's one of the things that's missing from my career so far.

"But as always I'm not going to panic, either way I'm going to keep my head down, keep doing my best for the team and hopefully that starts with a good win on Saturday."

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Harry Kane answered questions from pupils at Manor School, Northamptonshire, via video link and gave advice on mental wellbeing and resilience.

It is Kane's experience, the peaks and troughs of his career to date, that keep him level-headed.

The glorious moments - becoming England captain, winning the World Cup Golden Boot, his record-breaking time at Tottenham and now the trophy chase at Bayern - would not have been possible without the struggles.

Kane was released by Arsenal's academy aged eight, rejected by Tottenham on his first trial, and struggled during loan spells at Norwich and Leicester City which left him questioning whether he had what it took to reach the top.

He wants to put that experience, and his influence as England captain, to good use with his work on children's mental health with the Harry Kane Foundation.

"I used to look up to players like David Beckham. Now I'm in that situation - there are a lot of young boys and girls looking up to me," he said.

"You listen to your role models. I would have done anything Beckham said when I was a kid."

On Tuesday, during Children's Mental Health Week, Kane spoke remotely to pupils from Manor School, Northamptonshire, about building resilience and emotional wellbeing through his foundation's partnership with UK charity Bounce Forward.

Working alongside his wife Kate, and having looked at the social media-obsessed world their four children are "coming into", Kane wants to "help a lot of the younger generation in their mental health journey".

He explained: "When I was younger, being released from one club and having setbacks like that, and then when I was an older teenager, 17, 18, going out on loan, living on my own for the first time, things not going so well at some of those loans, that's when I look back.

"I had to show a lot of strength, a lot of self-belief, a lot of resilience in those moments. I was lucky to have a good family around me, a good girlfriend at the time who's my wife now, so I was able to get things off my chest and that allowed me to focus on what I needed to do, work harder and ultimately turn into the player I am now.

"Everyone goes through different moments in their life, ups and downs, it's just when you have those downs you don't let things get carried away, you have to know or learn things to do to help you in those moments."

Saturday 10th February 2024 - German Bundesliga

Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3 Bayern Munich 0

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Leverkusen wing-back Alex Grimaldo has scored eight goals in his debut Bundesliga season

Report By Timothy Abraham, BBC Sport.
Bayer Leverkusen struck a huge blow in the Bundesliga title race with an emphatic victory over Bayern Munich which sent them five points clear.

Xabi Alonso's side took the lead in the first half when Josip Stanisic finished clinically at the back post.

The BayArena erupted again shortly after the break when Alex Grimaldo fired in from a tight angle.

Jeremie Frimpong put the gloss on the result in injury time when goalkeeper Manuel Neuer went up for a corner.

Second-placed Bayern, the defending champions having won the past 11 Bundesliga titles, managed just a solitary shot on target as they were blown away.

Leverkusen's victory means they are now unbeaten in 31 matches in all competitions this season (won 27, drawn four).

Bayern's Thomas Muller, said: "What we're missing is the guts and some freedom to play.

"Leverkusen were taking risks, looking for solutions and playing football.

"We're playing from A to B, B to C, and nobody plays freely or takes risks."


Quiet night for Kane as Bayern fall flat
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For the first time in eight years, Bayern only managed one shot on target in a Bundesliga match.
This result was a bruise to the ego of a team used to being top dogs, as much as to their points total.
There's still a long way to go this season and it is difficult to envisage the 33-time Bundesliga winners throwing in the towel just yet allowing Leverkusen to canter home.

Harry Kane: Chingford statue in storage for years with nowhere to go..By James W Kelly & Josh Mellor, BBC News and Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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A statue of England captain Harry Kane has been hidden in storage for years because councillors cannot find a home for it.

Waltham Forest Council in north-east London allocated £7,200 in 2019 and 2020 to have the sculpture made of the Chingford-raised footballer.

The life-size figure reportedly depicts the striker sitting on a bench.

Chingford resident Trevor Calver, who uncovered its existence, said it was a "joke" that the artwork was in storage.

Emma Best and Roy Berg, the Conservative councillors for Chingford's Endlebury ward who approved the project, had planned to install the statue on a platform at Chingford Overground station.

But their proposal was rejected following a risk assessment carried out by Transport for London.

For reasons that remain unclear, the two councillors scrapped a previous proposal to place it in Ridgeway Park, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Ms Best said she had spent "hours and hours" trying to agree a home for the statue with "stakeholders".

Mr Berg said there were no available pictures of the statue when asked by BBC News.

A spokesperson for Kane said they were "really excited" about the statue and it was hoped it could be revealed "in the coming months".

"Especially with Harry being England and Tottenham's all time top goal scorer. It is what he deserves," the spokesperson said.

"The location of the statue is really important to us and like Emma said we are having some issues at the moment, but when we get it right, we will be happy to go."

When asked last year about the prospect of a statue at the grounds of his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, Kane told Sky Sports News: "A statue is a statue, it's not something that's going to make or break my career."

Mr Calver said he had been trying to find out where the statue was and who was paying for the storage.

"It's ridiculous, £7,200 up the swanny. It's a joke - but it's not funny," he said.

A Waltham Forest Council spokesperson said community ward funding projects were suggested by residents and delivered by councillors.

The council said there was "clear guidance" on what could and could not receive funding.

Friday 1st March 2024 - German Bundesliga

SC Freiburg 2 Bayern Munich 2

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Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel could end the season without a trophy for Bayern

Bayern Munich could end the weekend 10 points off the top of the Bundesliga after dropping points against Freiburg.

Christian Gunter fired the mid-table hosts into a lead with a fine 20-yard strike.

Bayern thought they had turned it round through Mathys Tel's excellent curling effort and Jamal Musiala's placed shot after a solo run.

But Lucas Holer struck an 87th-minute volley to snatch a point for the hosts.

Bayern are now seven points behind unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who visit Cologne in their game in hand on Sunday.

It could spell the end of the Munich outfit's decade of total dominance in German football. They have won a record 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles.

Their poor season has already led to the news Thomas Tuchel will leave his role as head coach at the end of the season.

If Bayern fail to beat Lazio on Tuesday in the Champions League last-16 second leg - they lost the first tie 1-0 in Rome - they are likely to end the season without any silverware.

It was a frustrating night for England striker Harry Kane, who missed several chances for Bayern and failed to build on his run of three goals in two games.

Saturday 16th March 2024 - German Bundesliga

Darmstadt 98 2 Bayern Munich 5 (Harry Kane 36 assist & 45+1 goal)

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Harry Kane's brilliant debut season with Bayern Munich continued as he scored and provided an assist against Darmstadt

Report By Marissa Thomas, BBC Sport.
Harry Kane set a new personal best of 31 league goals in a season as Bayern Munich beat Darmstadt, It was Kane's diving header that put Bayern in front..
England captain Kane had previously scored 30 goals in two Premier League seasons while at Tottenham Hotspur.
He has also set a new record for the most goals in a Bundesliga debut campaign, overtaking the previous record set by Uwe Seeler (30) for Hamburg in 1963-64.
Kane was substituted in the 82nd minute after colliding with the post while trying to finish at the near post.
He will return to England for the Champions League quarter-finals next month when Bayern face his old foes Arsenal.
The first leg takes place at Emirates Stadium on 9th April with the return leg a week later on 17th April.

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Harry Kane has been involved in 40 Bundesliga goals in just 26 games (31 goals and 9 assists)

Harry Kane will join up with England despite ankle injury, say Bayern Munich..

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Harry Kane was injured in Bayern Munich's Bundesliga win on Saturday after running into the post

Bayern Munich say Harry Kane suffered a left ankle injury on Saturday but will still join up with England for international duty.

Kane scored against Darmstadt in the Bundesliga but was substituted late on after going down in the goalmouth as he stretched to reach the ball.

Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel said the striker "slipped and fell into the net and twisted his ankle".

England host Brazil on 23 March in a friendly and Belgium three days later.

"The striker has still travelled to international duty with England and will be treated by the team doctors there, in close consultation with the FC Bayern medical department," said a statement from the German club.

Kane took his tally to 31 league goals with his effort against Darmstadt as he set a new record for the most goals in a Bundesliga debut campaign, overtaking the previous mark set by Uwe Seeler (30) for Hamburg in 1963-64 - which was the first season of the Bundesliga.

"When Harry goes off it's never a good sign because Harry never goes off when there's still goals to score," added Tuchel after the match.

Kane is the England's record goalscorer with 62 goals in 89 appearances.

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Kane resumes training with Bayern..

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England captain Harry Kane has resumed light training with Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga champions have confirmed, external.

Kane, 30, was released from the national squad ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Belgium after missing the Three Lions' 1-0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley on Saturday.

The former Tottenham striker suffered an ankle injury in Bayern's Bundesliga victory over Darmstadt earlier this month and was allowed to return to his club to continue his recovery.

Bayern published photographs today of Kane - who has scored 31 goals in his first season at the club - participating in an individual fitness and ball work session.

TUESDAY 9th APRIL 2024 - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUARTER-FINALS - 1ST LEG

Arsenal v Bayern Munich - 8pm KO - at Emirates Stadium

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Arsenal will not "fear" Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane when they face the German champions in their Champions League quarter-final, says captain Martin Odegaard.

Kane has scored 38 goals since joining Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, having netted 14 for Spurs in 19 games against the Gunners.

"[He's] a good player, we know his quality in the box," said Odegaard.

"I think we should respect him but I don't think we should fear anyone and we should focus on ourselves."

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Harry Kane has scored the joint most goals by a visiting player at Emirates Stadium (five), along with Diogo Jota and Jamie Vardy

Kane is joint top of the Champions League scorers chart this season with six goals in eight matches, a feat matched by Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

Nobody across Europe's top five leagues has scored more top-flight goals than his 32 this campaign.

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus called Kane "the best finisher in the world" while manager Mikel Arteta said "his numbers over the past 10 years are unbelievable".

Despite Kane's goalscoring achievements, Bayern are very unlikely to secure a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title this season. They trail leaders Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points.

As for Arsenal, they are top of the Premier League on goal difference with seven games remaining.

The Gunners are hoping to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 15 years.

Bayern last reached the semis when they won the competition in 2020 and boss Thomas Tuchel wants his side to put disappointing domestic form behind them.

"The criticism is deserved after we lost in the cup and we're not going to win the league," said the former Chelsea boss.

"We are accepting the criticism, we haven't had the passion and hunger in the Bundesliga that we would expect from ourselves.

"In the Champions League, we've played at a very high level so far. We've reached our minimum goal. A lot of big teams have not reached the quarter-finals.

"We need two great performances and that is where our focus is."