Lahm & Schweinsteiger, the new Icons of FC Bayern Munich

Every big club has icons, players you automatically think of when you hear the name of the club.  Raul for Real Madrid, Xavi & Iniesta for Barca, Maldini for Milan, Zanetti Inter, Giggs United etc etc..  Even Bayern had these players, Kahn being the last, Effenberg before and even the Kaiser if we were to go back 30 years ago.  However Bayern may indeed have two new icons from Bayern, both raised who came from the city and youth system to turn into arguably 2 world class stars in the football world.. Phillipp Lahm & Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Lahm & Schweini, before the United match

Both had contracts expiring and clubs after them.  Lahm before signing his last extension had a chance to join Barcelona but refused and signed for us two years back.  Barcelona, United & Milan had been rumored to be after him.  Schweinsteiger being reinvented in the central midfield position (thanks to Van Gaal) has been a transfer spotlight from all over the place, Juve, Inter, Chelsea United & Real Madrid are clubs that in the past 2 seasons have wanted his signature.  Yet after the last Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena, he took the microphone and said I have signed an extension until 2016, long live Bayern!  In an interview afterwards, he stated he'd rather win the title with Bayern rather with Real Madrid or Inter Milan.

 Schweini telling 69,000 fans live of his extension with Bayern!

One interesting thing that I noticed from Rummenigge that was similar to both extensions was the time frame it took to pen the deals.  According to him, both players took 5 to 10 minutes before signing.  Both players have signed until 2016, which would make Lahm & Schweini 33 and 32 years old by the time the contract runs out.  It's a statement that they wish to stay for the club for a long time and likely retire in Munich.  Their extensions is great news for many reasons.  For one, it states that Bayern can keep their stars and have serious ambitions to be a top club.  Another is that since last year, Bayern has many good youth talents thanks to Van Gaal.  Many look up to Schweini & Lahm.  In fact based on a few interviews from last season, Muller, Badstuber & Contento in particular talked how both these two players and not the current captain Van Bommel were ones they look up to.. the players they want to become in the future.  It sends a great message because in the future if these youngsters grow and become big name players.. once the big clubs come in to ask for them, they may look at these 2 icons from Bayern and decide to stay with Bayern, to do what their role models have done.   Players like Muller, Badstuber & Kroos in particular look very talented and could be the ones who replace these two in many years to come as the face of Bayern Munich..   Both are vice-captains at Bayern & Lahm is captain with Schweini as the vice-captain for the German national team.  Assuming Van Bommel leaves in January or the summer, these two will lead Bayern & Germany for many years as the captain and the vice-captain.  However for them to be remembered, they need titles and important ones.  Winning the Champions League, Euro Cup & especially the World Cup in the future is something they will need to do to immortalize their names in the German & Bayern Munich fans' eyes!