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6 months ago
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August 18, 2023, Harry Kane stepped off the first of two Bayern Munich team buses to arrive at the Weserstadion in Bremen.
Earphones in, game face on, Kane walked into the unknown.
Tottenham was all he’d ever known; 280 goals, 61 assists, 435 appearances. One of their own.
The numbers were staggering. But one particular statistic - and the stigma attached to it - he couldn’t bare.
For Kane, it was - and is - the most crucial number of all. Trophies: zero.
Harry Kane continues to be haunted by a key statistic in his career - trophies: zero
On that balmy summer’s evening in north-west Germany, Kane approached the away dressing room in preparation for his full Bayern debut in the Bundesliga opener against Werder Bremen clutching a silver washbag in his right hand.
Fast forward nine months and the colour of that luxury toiletry case couldn’t be more symbolic.
Kane left England in search of gold. He continues, frustratingly, having to settle for silver or worse.
His £120million move to Bavaria was expected to herald an instant rush of trophies to finally add what was missing from Kane’s goal-laden career.
Because, traditionally, Bayern win. And win big.
Tottenham was all Kane ever knew before his £100m move to Bayern before leaving England in search of gold
But despite Bayern's reputation for winning big, Kane has had to settle for silver or less
So, with that in mind, you’d forgive Kane for trying to recall whether he'd broken a mirror or walked under a ladder.
Second to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga as Bayern failed to win the domestic title for the first time in 12 years was underwhelming.
Their shock loss to third-tier Saarbrucken in the German Cup was shambolic and meant Bayern ended their domestic season without silverware for the first time since 2012.
And then came Wednesday night; defeat from the clutches of a euphoric win that would have gained them entry into the Champions League final against fellow German side Borussia Dortmund.
All Kane could do was sit and watch from the bench as his team, leading 1-0 heading into the final two minutes of normal time, somehow contrived to throw it all away at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Thomas Tuchel’s decision to substitute Kane during the closing stages of the game has been pilloried, although the German coach insists his hand was forced with his star striker having suffered a back injury.
Kane remains the model professional and barely touched his stein of beer at Oktoberfest earlier this season
The England captain and his family have since moved into the upmarket area of Grunwald
Grunwald is considered the the 'Beverley Hills of Bavaria' and is home of the rich and famous, offering the very best in luxury mansions.
'I'll tell you what was unexpected, Harry Kane going off the pitch. That's one of the biggest subs I've ever seen in a game of football of that magnitude,’ said former England and Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
'To take off a guy that's scored 44 goals, who is the most durable player pretty much anywhere and you bring on another striker in [Maxim] Choupo-Moting. Maybe he wanted height for corners, I don't know.
'You cannot take him off. There's five minutes left in the game, there's 10 minutes of extra-time, 15 minutes.’
But the ifs, buts and maybes are neither here nor there, certainly for Kane, whose trophyless streak continues.
The dejected expression on his face in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s latest Champions League miracle offered a haunting insight into the pain he is enduring.
The numbers remain exemplary. Forty-five games, 44 goals, 12 assists. Kane’s personal reputation as Europe’s most complete marksman is snowballing.
But it’s that big, fat zero that continues to hound him. And, until that zero is no more, it’s a suffering that won’t heal.
The dejected expression on Kane's face after their defeat to Real Madrid offered a haunting insight into the pain he is enduring
You’d forgive Kane for trying to recall whether he'd broken a mirror or walked under a ladder after a difficult season in Germany
Of course, the season isn’t over. If Kane is looking for a silver lining following his team’s last-gasp capitulation in Spain’s capital then he may find it in the form of England’s forthcoming tilt at glory.
The fact he won’t be featuring in the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1 means he’ll be able to play a full part in the preparations for Euro 2024, a tournament Gareth Southgate’s side head into as favourites.
Those close to Kane explain that is exactly how he’ll approach the next few days.
‘What’s the next challenge? That’s what he’ll be telling himself,’ said one source.
No time for self-loathing, or self-pity. That isn’t how he is built. Onto the next one.
Kane will seek refuge in his family, as he always does. His father Ted, brother Charlie, wife Kate and four children are always on hand to console and encourage.
Scoring 44 goals in 45 games is extraordinary, but his trophies record continues to hound him
But, moreover, Kane may look to consider how he can impact his - and his team’s - destiny. Kane can be self-critical, in many ways that is one of his strongest attributes.
So, one area he may look to is his goal return in the biggest matches. He didn’t score for Spurs in his three finals for the club.
He scored twice in his eight semi-finals for the north London side, one of which was from the spot.
For England, he has scored in one of the two major tournament semi-finals he has played in - the winner against Denmark at Euro 2020, a strike that came from his original saved penalty. He didn’t score in the final of the same tournament against Italy.
Kane did score in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real last week, but that was a penalty.
Sometimes we get carried away with the ‘big goals in big games’ narrative; for example Thierry Henry, who has won everything, scored no goals in his nine finals as a professional.
Indeed, there are other ways to impact football matches; we shouldn’t forget it was Kane’s pass that led to Alphonse Davies firing Bayern ahead on Wednesday night.
But his overall record of four goals in 18 semis and finals offers room for improvement.
Kane has only managed four goals in 18 semi-finals and finals during his career
Steven Gerrard, for example, has scored in a Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and EFL Cup final.
Didier Drogba has scored 10 goals in the 10 finals he has played. Some players possess an innate ability to drag their teams over the line when it’s most needed.
‘There’s always moments (of self doubt) in high pressure games, or in the lead-up to big tournaments or big moments,’ said Kane in October. ‘I don’t know if it’s just doubt; it’s the anticipation of what’s coming and what’s going to happen, how’s it going to play out.’
Kane, unquestionably, has the ability to emulate Gerrard and Drogba’s contributions in high pressure situations - and there will be further opportunities to prove he is the man for the big occasion.
Because Bayern will come again, make no mistake. And so, too, will Kane.
‘He will have a career like Zlatan [Ibrahimovic],’ someone close to Kane explained.
‘He will play until he’s 40, travel Europe and win trophies.’
Indeed, those at Bayern have been amazed at Kane’s dedication to recovery after training and matches as he leaves no stone unturned in search of career longevity.
Steven Gerrard (left) and Didier Drogba (right) have both shown a knack of scoring when it matters
At Bayern’s yearly visit to Oktoberfest, Kane barely touched the stein of beer placed in front of him, while his commitment to nutrition, particularly 48 hours prior to match days, is one of the key reasons his availability record has improved significantly from the earlier days of his career.
At the age 30, provided he stays free of serious injury, Kane has ample time to change the narrative that engulfs him regarding his non-existent trophy record.
He faced pressure at Tottenham, of course. But, privately, Kane acknowledges he’s experiencing a different level of pressure in Bavaria. It’s not pressure at Bayern, but expectation.
Ultimately, it was why Kane chose Bayern last summer. The guarantee of, at the very least, challenging for trophies every year was alluring, as was the opportunity to join one of European football's undisputed heavyweights.
And for Kane, at least for the time being, his priority is to finally end his trophy duck with Bayern next season.
He has three years left on his contract and appears to have no intention of trying to seek a way out anytime soon.
Having spent the majority of the season in a luxurious five-star hotel in the heart of Munich’s old town district, Kane’s family have since moved into the upmarket area of Grunwald, known as the the ‘Beverley Hills of Bavaria’.
Kane has settled in well in Munich and the arrival of close friend Eric Dier has helped him
The 30-year-old will have the chance to claim his first trophy with England at Euro 2024
Eric Dier’s arrival at Bayern, with whom Kane has a close friendship from their time together at Tottenham and England, has also eased the settling in process for the striker.
Kane and Dier are becoming familiar faces at the nearby 27-hole Munchener Golf club in Strasslach and Golfplatz Schloss in Egmating as the pair perfect their swings.
But no hole in one can substitute the ultimate success Kane is relentlessly pursuing.
On that summer’s evening in Bremen last August, Kane scored and assisted.
Hope sprung eternal then. That optimism has slowly - and rather painfully - diminished.
In a few weeks, back in his adopted home of Germany, the anticipation levels will go through the roof again.
Can Kane finally break his duck? Let’s hope so.
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