Kim Minjae Collects Another Championship Star... "Already His Third"

Bayern Munich Clinches Second Consecutive Bundesliga Title

Kim Min-jae Leads 4-2 Victory over Stuttgart

Championship Secured Early, Regardless of Remaining Matches

South Korean national team center-back Kim Min-jae has achieved his third championship in a major European league, marking another milestone in his career. Despite a season that seemed shaky at times, he ultimately proved his value by leading his team to the top.

On April 19 (local time), Bayern Munich secured a come-from-behind 4-2 victory against VfB Stuttgart in the 30th round home match of the 2025-2026 German Bundesliga held at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. With this win, Munich recorded 25 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss (79 points), widening the gap with second-place Borussia Dortmund (64 points) to 15 points and confirming their championship early, regardless of the results of the remaining four matches. This marks their 35th league title in club history and their second consecutive championship.

Bayern Munich players, including Kim Minjae (second from left), are celebrating after securing an early championship with a 4-2 victory in the 30th round home match of the 2024-2026 German Bundesliga season against Stuttgart at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Munich = Reuters Yonhap News

On this day, Kim Min-jae was selected as a starting center-back and played the full match, sharing the moment of clinching the title on the pitch. He appeared in 22 league matches this season, recording 1 goal and 1 assist, contributing to the team’s defensive stability as a central figure. Including cup competitions, he played in more than 30 official matches, maintaining consistent playing time.

This particular championship holds even greater significance for Kim Min-jae. After winning Serie A with SSC Napoli in the 2022-2023 season, he has now reached the Bundesliga summit with Munich for two consecutive seasons, achieving his third title in Europe's top five leagues. He is the second Korean player to do so, following Park Ji-sung (Manchester United).

This season was not an easy one for Kim Min-jae. His playing time decreased in the second half of the season, sparking transfer rumors and even speculation about a possible return to Italy's Serie A, where he previously played. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and continued to fulfill his defensive duties, supporting the team's competitiveness. By providing solid defense in key matches, he ultimately contributed to winning the championship trophy.

Kim Minjae is blocking Thiago Thomas' attack during the 2024-2026 German Bundesliga Round 30 home match against Stuttgart at Allianz Arena in Munich. Munich=AP Yonhap News

The flow of the match was also dramatic. Munich started anxiously, conceding the opening goal in the 21st minute of the first half, but equalized in the 31st minute with a goal from Raphael Guerreiro. Just two minutes later, Nicolas Jackson scored to put Munich ahead, and in the 37th minute, Alphonso Davies added another, with Munich netting three goals in just six minutes.

In the second half, star striker Harry Kane was substituted in and immediately made his mark. Kane scored just seven minutes after coming on, extending the lead to 4-1 and solidifying his position as the league's top scorer with 32 goals in 27 matches. Although Munich conceded another goal late in the second half, they finished the match without conceding any more.

With this championship, Munich has regained its status as the league’s dominant force. After winning 11 consecutive league titles from the 2012-2013 season, they ceded the throne to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 2023-2024 season but have reaffirmed their dominance by claiming the top spot for two straight seasons since then.

Bayern Munich players are celebrating after securing an early championship by winning 4-2 at home against Stuttgart in the 30th round of the 2024-2026 German Bundesliga at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Munich=Reuters Yonhap News

The team continues to achieve success under manager Vincent Kompany. Since his appointment, he has quickly reorganized the team and led them to two consecutive league titles. His tactics, which emphasize balance between attack and defense, are now firmly established.

Attention now turns to the quest for the treble. Munich remains in contention for the DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. In particular, with a Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain scheduled, there is growing interest in the possibility of a "Korean Derby" featuring Lee Kang-in.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.