A season full of drama, the end was the champion... Kim Min-jae roars with a beer mug in hand, wearing the championship medal

*This content was translated by AI.

Could it get any better? 'Monster defender' Kim Min-jae (30, Bayern Munich) beamed with a wide smile during the championship celebration.

On the 17th (Korea time), Bayern Munich secured a decisive 5-1 victory over FC Köln in their home match at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, in the final 34th round of the 2025-2026 German Bundesliga. With the league title already secured, Bayern Munich concluded the season with an extraordinary record of 28 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss (89 points). The point gap with second-place Borussia Dortmund (73 points) was also significant.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane shone brightly. Kane scored consecutive goals in the 10th and 13th minutes of the first half, then added another goal in the 24th minute of the second half when his team led 3-1, completing a hat trick. With three more goals against Köln, Kane finished the season with 36 goals in 31 league matches, securing the top scorer title for three consecutive seasons since joining Bayern Munich in 2023. European football statistics site FootMob awarded Kane the highest rating of 9.7 for both teams.

Kim Min-jae, who had recently suffered an injury, was excluded from the matchday squad. However, he participated in the championship celebration held after the match, sharing the joy with his teammates. Wearing the championship medal around his neck and holding a large beer mug in one hand, Kim Min-jae let out a roar. The broadcast also captured a moment where Kim Min-jae appeared to pour beer on Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany. Kompany, with a playful expression, waved his hands and dodged, while Kim Min-jae smiled brightly as if acknowledging the situation.

In fact, this season was not easy for Kim Min-jae. With the arrival of Jonathan Tah and competition from existing rival Dayot Upamecano, his position as a starter was shaken. As his playing time decreased, strong transfer rumors emerged during the winter transfer window last year. Nevertheless, Kim Min-jae remained steadfast. He quietly dedicated himself to the team and accepted the role assigned to him, even amidst the aftermath of his injury.

Earlier, the German media outlet Merkur praised Kim Min-jae's performance in the match against Wolfsburg on the 10th, stating, "He delivered a monster tackle within 15 minutes of the match start. He displayed an overall solid performance."

Kim Min-jae recorded an average of 0.9 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 3.2 clearances, and 1.8 aerial duel victories per game in 25 league matches this season.

Thanks to this, Bayern Munich maintained a stable lineup throughout the season. At the same time, they pulled away from rival teams early on and lifted the championship trophy. Kim Min-jae also shared the champion's smile with his teammates. During the awards ceremony, he raised both hands in celebration.

However, the season for Bayern Munich and Kim Min-jae is not over. Bayern Munich has advanced to the DFB-Pokal final and is aiming for a double. They will face Stuttgart for the trophy on the 24th. If Kim Min-jae recovers his condition, he can contribute to another championship challenge.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.