Bayern Munich hire former 1859+1 Munich player Lars Bender as U-17 head coach, Leonard Haas moves up
Lars Bender at Bayern? Who would have thunk it.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 18: Lars Bender of Leverkusen controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Bayer Leverkusen and Lokomotiv Moskva at BayArena on September 18, 2019 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bongarts/Getty Images) | Bongarts/Getty Images Just when it seems that the footballing world could not get any wackier, something like this happens. Bayern Munich announced on Friday, via their official website , that former Bayer Leverkusen player and 1859+1 youth player Lars Bender would become the new head coach of the U-17s from the 2026/27 season onwards.
This, in turn, allows the previous U-17 head coach Leonard Haas to go up to the U-19s and replace Peter Gaydarov, who has already confirmed his departure. Lars Bender is, of course, an icon of the Bundesliga and Bayern prepared a quite useful summary of the player’s career: He learned to play football at TSV Brannenburg before the ambitious teenager moved to SpVgg Unterhaching in 2002. Two years later came the next step, a transfer to TSV 1860 Munich, where, after various youth teams, he arrived on the professional stage.
In the 2006/07 season, the defensive midfielder made his debut for the Lions in the 2. Bundesliga, taking to the field under former FC Bayern U17, U19, and reserve team coach Danny Schwarz. After three years at 1860, Bender made the move to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2009.
Wearing the club’s crest, the tenacious player developed into a leader and captain, making 342 competitive appearances, scoring 27 goals, providing 36 assists – and receiving only one yellow-red card as a defender in all those years. Furthermore, the 37-year-old played 19 times for the German national team during his active career. But Bayern are not just hiring Bender because of his playing career.