Heynckes, 72, bows out in Europe
AFP
AFP, BERLIN: Jupp Heynckes bowed out with Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals with the head coach admitting not many 72-year-olds get to experience such an adventure.
Heynckes, who turned 73 on Wednesday, took charge of his final European match in Tuesdays 2-2 draw at Real Madrid before he steps down at the end of the season.
When Carlo Ancelotti was sacked last October, Heynckes returned to Bayern after four years in retirement since leading Bayern to the 2013 treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup titles.
He only signed a contract until June and Heynckes will be replaced by Eintracht Frankfurt boss Niko Kovac next season.
His Bayern team went down fighting in Madrid.
After losing the first leg 2-1 in Munich, Bayern flew out of the blocks in the return at the Santiago Bernabeu with Joshua Kimmich scoring after just three minutes.
Real equalised when Karim Benzema was allowed to head home unmarked at the far post.
Then a double mistake in the Bayern defence allowed the French striker to make it 2-1 just a minute after the break.
Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich gifted Benzema his second goal by misjudging a poor back-pass from Corentin Tolisso to allow the Frenchman to tap into an empty net.
James Rodriguez equalised for Bayern, but the Germans ultimately bowed out to Spanish opposition for the fifth season in a row in the knock-out stages of Europe. Nevertheless, Heynckes has worked wonders with Bayern this season.
Bayern had a five-point deficit in the Bundesliga table when he arrived, yet now hold into a massive 24-point lead after wrapping up a sixth straight title last month.
Bayerns dreams of winning the treble this season ended in Madrid.
