Former Bayern Munich and Germany defender Jerome Boateng has called off a planned coaching internship at the club following protests from fans over his recent conviction for assaulting his former partner. The 37-year-old, who retired from playing last month, had been in talks to work briefly under head coach Vincent Kompany.
In a statement on social media, Boateng said he would instead focus on obtaining his A coaching licence. 'Following the recent discussion regarding myself, I have decided to focus on my issues such as the A training license … that is where my focus is,' he wrote. He added that Bayern's attention should remain on the pitch, especially after their 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, their 13th consecutive victory across all competitions.
Bayern fans had objected to the internship after a Munich court last year found Boateng guilty of premeditated bodily harm against his former partner, handing him a suspended fine and a warning. An online petition titled 'Setting borders against misogynistic violence: Jerome Boateng should not be allowed back to Bayern Munich' gathered thousands of signatures.
Boateng spent a decade at Bayern between 2011 and 2021, winning nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues. He was also a teammate of Kompany at Manchester City before joining Bayern. The World Cup winner made 76 appearances for Germany and retired last month after a short stint with Austrian side LASK Linz, where his contract was terminated by mutual consent in August.
Boateng thanked the club leadership and Kompany for their trust and the opportunity, but ultimately decided to step aside to avoid further distraction.
