5 things on Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane
Harry Kane is living up to his reputation as one of the world's best strikers at Bayern Munich - but what else is there to know about the England captain? bundesliga.com finds out...
1) Goal machine
Let's begin with the obvious. Bayern signed Kane based on his eye-watering record in front of goal. He struck a club record 280 times in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur, and is England's all-time leading marksman on 63 goals. A three-time English Premier League Golden Boot winner, he produced 30 single-season goals twice (2017/18 and 2022/23) and never scored fewer than 17 across nine full campaigns in a Spurs shirt. A rip-roaring 36 goals in 32 appearances in his debut Bundesliga season of 2023/24 confirmed Kane's reputation as a goalscorer par excellence.
Watch: The best of Kane's first season at Bayern
2) He could have played for Arsenal...
Kane had been on the Tottenham books for some 14 years man and boy before moving to Bayern - but how different his career might have been. Aged just eight, he joined the youth academy of fierce local rivals Arsenal, only to be let go less than a year later. Following a return to local outfit Ridgeways Rovers and short stint at Watford, Kane signed for Spurs in 2009. He became a first-team regular in 2014, but not before loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City. In 19 meetings with Arsenal, he proved a serious point by rattling off 14 goals.
Want more Bundesliga Action?
3) ... and the Republic of Ireland
That's right, folks. Kane very nearly pulled on the green and white of his father's homeland. If former ROI coach Martin O'Neill is to be believed, the new Bayern No.9 was tantalisngly close to switching allegiances back in 2014, despite a respectable return in front of goal for England's U17-21s. He eventually made his senior international bow for the Three Lions in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithaunia on 27 March 2015 - his first of 90 caps to date - and has captained his country since October 2017.
4) The Harry Kane Foundation
Kane has put his high profile to good use by starting his own charity. The Harry Kane Foundation (HKF) launched in October 2022, with a focus on changing the thinking around mental health. "It marks the start of my journey to learn more about mental health and use my position hopefully to encourage others to look after their mental health, be their best and not be afraid to ask for help," he said of HKF's official unveiling on World Mental Health Day. "While I'm far from an expert on the subject, I've learnt that there is a growing number of people who need to learn positive coping strategies and build resilience to deal with adversity."
Watch: Harry Kane: Resilience
5) Old romantic
That's not the only reason Bayern have experienced no problems with Kane's character. In 2019, two years after proposing on a Barbados beach, he tied the knot with childhood sweetheart, Katie. A photo of the pair meeting David Beckham - when Harry was 11 - has even been shared on social media. It's not the first time Harry's sent the Twittersphere into overdrive for something other than plundering goals, either. He was feeling so confident in the midst of a 2015/16 purple patch that he took to Twitter to call out MMA fighter Connor McGregor for a five-round featherweight bout.
Needless to say, the only knockout blows Bayern expect to see their strike star landing are more of the goal-scoring variety...
Related news
How do Bayern and Leipzig stack up?
Bayern take on recent rivals Leipzig in their final game before the winter break. The record champions vs. the young pretenders - how do they compare?
Bundesliga top scorer's race
Kane leads the way so far this campaign, but there is a wealth of attacking talents ready hot in pursuit...
How will the 2026 World Cup work?
Bundesliga stars will be vying for the game's greatest international honour in the USA, Canada and Mexico - here's how it will all work.