Franck Ribéry (part 2)

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11 Mar 2024

Franck Ribéry (part 2)

Bayern Munich announced that they had reached an agreement with Marseille for the transfer of Franck Ribéry. The player agreed to a four-year deal, and Bayern paid Marseille a then club-record €25 million. Ribéry was given the number 7 shirt, which became available due to the retirement of midfielder Mehmet Scholl at the end of the previous season. His team debut took place a month later, where he scored twice in an 18–0 friendly victory against Munich youth side FT Gern. In his competitive debut on 21 July 2007 against Werder Bremen in the first round of the Premiere Ligapokal, Ribéry scored twice and assisted on another in a 4–1 victory. However, he was unable to play in the final due to injury, which Bayern won.

Ribéry scored his first league goal for Bayern on 18 August in a 4–0 win over Bremen, converting a penalty in the 31st minute. After nearly two months without scoring in the league, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 2–1 win over VfL Bochum. A month later, Ribéry repeated this feat, assisting on the opening goal and scoring the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over VfL Wolfsburg. In the German Cup, he scored two goals and provided four assists in five matches. He netted his first goal in the competition on 27 February 2008 in Bayern's win over 1860 Munich. In the semi-finals, Ribéry scored the opening goal in Bayern's 2–0 win over Wolfsburg, helping the club qualify for the final against Borussia Dortmund. In the DFB-Pokal final, he assisted on Luca Toni's opener in the 11th minute, and Bayern won 2–1, claiming their 14th cup title.

In the UEFA Cup, Bayern reached the semi-finals, with Ribéry scoring three goals in the competition, including one in the comeback win over Spanish club Getafe in the quarter-finals. In total, Ribéry appeared in 46 matches, scoring 16 goals and assisting on 17 goals as Bayern secured the league and cup double. For his outstanding performance, Ribéry was named the 2007–08 Footballer of the Year in Germany on 8 June 2008. Additionally, he was named the French Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Due to tearing ligaments in his ankle at Euro 2008, Franck Ribéry began the 2008-2009 season with Bayern Munich on 24 September 2008 in a DFB-Pokal match against 1. FC Nürnberg, coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute. His league debut took place three days later, and after a month of play, he scored his first goal of the season in Bayern's 4–2 comeback win over VfL Wolfsburg. Following this match, Ribéry scored in five consecutive league matches, contributing to the club's undefeated run in that span. On 10 December, he capped off the 2008 portion of the season by scoring a goal and providing assists on the other two in Bayern's 3–2 victory over Lyon in the Champions League.

For his performances throughout 2008, Ribéry finished third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Onze d'Or. He was also shortlisted by the French magazine France Football for the 2008 Ballon d'Or, which was ultimately won by Cristiano Ronaldo.
In 2009, Ribéry's debut for the season saw Bayern secure a 5–1 German Cup win over VfB Stuttgart, with Ribéry scoring and providing an assist. On 24 February 2009, he scored a double in the club's 5–0 win over Sporting CP in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash. However, Bayern was later eliminated 5–1 on aggregate by Spanish champions Barcelona in the next round, with Ribéry scoring a consolation goal in the second leg in a 1–1 draw at the Allianz Arena. In the league, Bayern failed to defend their Bundesliga title, finishing second to Wolfsburg. Ribéry concluded the season with 36 total appearances, scoring 14 goals, and providing 19 assists.

Following the 2008–09 season, there was constant speculation about Franck Ribéry's availability on the transfer market. Despite Bayern Munich's president Uli Hoeneß, executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and new manager Louis van Gaal declaring that Ribéry would not be sold, various media outlets reported strong interest from English clubs Chelsea and Manchester United, Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Italian outfit Inter Milan. These clubs were rumored to be willing to offer as much as €65 million for his services. In an attempt to discourage potential suitors, Hoeneß stated that Ribéry would not leave for less than €100 million.

Ribéry began the 2009–10 season dealing with tendonitis in his left knee but managed to start the season, scoring his first goal in a 5–1 victory against rivals Borussia Dortmund, converting a free kick. His celebration after the goal, running across the field and jumping into manager Louis van Gaal's arms, put an end to media speculation about their alleged poor relationship. However, the tendinitis began to affect his play in early October, causing Ribéry to miss the remainder of the year, including France's World Cup playoff tie with the Republic of Ireland.

On 23 January 2010, Ribéry made his return to the team as a substitute in the club's 3–2 league win over Werder Bremen. He scored his first goal of the year on 10 February in Bayern's 6–2 DFB-Pokal victory over SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Notably, on 31 March, he scored the equalizing goal in Bayern's 2–1 first-leg win over Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals after converting a free kick.

However, Ribéry's season took a turn on 20 April when he was sent off in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Lyon, resulting in him missing the second leg. He was subsequently handed a three-match suspension by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body for assault. Despite Bayern Munich's appeal to UEFA and later to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Ribéry was ruled out of the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan on 22 May 2010.

On 15 May 2010, Ribéry scored the third goal in Bayern's 4–0 win over Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal final. Shortly after, he agreed to a new five-year contract with Bayern Munich, which was officially confirmed on 23 May. The contract tied Ribéry to the club until 2015 and was rumored to pay him an annual salary of €10 million, making it the highest annual salary ever awarded to a player in the club's history.

Franck Ribéry began the season healthy for the first time since his debut season with Bayern Munich. He made his season debut on August 16, 2010, scoring in Bayern's 4–0 victory over Germania Windeck in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. However, on September 21, Ribéry suffered an ankle injury during the team's 2–1 win over 1899 Hoffenheim, leading to a four-week absence. Despite initial diagnosis, Ribéry missed two months and returned on November 14 against 1. FC Nürnberg. On December 8, he scored a double in a 3–0 victory over Swiss club Basel in the Champions League.