Bayern Munich react to Kane’s historic Ballon d’Or win

Bayern Munich assistant coach Aaron Danks has praised Harry Kane for his humility and professionalism following the England captain’s maiden Ballon d’Or triumph, saying the striker is already focused on his next goal.

Kane, 33, received the prestigious individual award in his hometown of London on Monday evening, becoming the first recipient of the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or.

Danks, who is temporarily overseeing Bayern’s technical area while head coach Vincent Kompany recovers in hospital from a virus, said the achievement would not distract Kane from his responsibilities on the pitch.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the assistant coach expressed his delight at the striker’s achievement, adding that Kane’s commitment to football remained unchanged despite receiving one of the sport’s highest individual honours.

“I am really happy for him and proud of what he’s achieved. I know Harry and his full focus will now be on his next goal, his next performances, his next games,” Danks said.

“He’ll be straight back into that professional, humble mindset that got him to this level.”

Kane finally receives recognition

Kane’s Ballon d’Or success represents a major milestone in a career marked by prolific goalscoring, individual accolades and years of pursuing major team honours.

Before joining Bayern Munich in 2023, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker had established himself as one of Europe’s most consistent goalscorers but had struggled to win major senior team trophies.

During his time at Tottenham, Kane won several individual goalscoring awards and helped the London club reach the finals of the Premier League title race and the UEFA Champions League without securing either honour.

Danks said Kane had consistently demonstrated his quality long before trophies began arriving in his career.

The Bayern assistant coach recalled criticism surrounding the striker’s lack of silverware during his years in England, arguing that his achievements with Tottenham and the national team deserved greater recognition.

“I remember years ago when he was back home in England, and everybody spoke about him not winning trophies, but if you looked at his career and what he was achieving, he was having a fantastic career,” Danks said.

He added that Kane had played important roles in England’s runs to European Championship finals and Tottenham’s journey to the Champions League final.

“Maybe he wasn’t getting the recognition in terms of trophies that he deserved, but those things are coming now for him,” he said.

Trophies follow move to Bayern

Kane’s move to Bayern Munich in 2023 marked a new chapter in his career as he sought to combine his individual goalscoring achievements with major team honours.

Since arriving in Germany, the striker has added the Bundesliga title and the German Cup to his list of achievements, while Bayern have also reached the Champions League semi-finals in two of his three seasons at the club.

His latest individual recognition further strengthens his standing among the leading players of his generation.

For Danks, the Ballon d’Or award reflects the recognition Kane has long deserved for his performances and contributions to the teams he has represented.

The assistant coach, however, stressed that the England captain’s immediate attention would return to club duties rather than the celebrations surrounding his achievement.

Kane available for German Cup clash

Kane and the Bayern delegation that travelled to London for the Ballon d’Or ceremony were expected to return to Munich around midday on Tuesday.

Danks confirmed that the striker would train later in the day and be available for Wednesday’s German Cup fixture against second-tier Magdeburg.

“They’re due back at lunchtime today. He’ll train, practice this afternoon and be available for tomorrow… Our full focus is on the game tomorrow,” he said.

The fixture presents Kane with an opportunity to continue his contribution to Bayern’s campaign as the club pursues further success across competitions.

Bayern currently sit at the top of the Bundesliga after seven matches, level on points with Borussia Dortmund but ahead on goal difference.

The two German heavyweights are scheduled to meet in Munich on Saturday in a highly anticipated league encounter.

Danks provides update on Kompany

Meanwhile, Danks has offered a positive update on Kompany’s condition following the Bayern head coach’s hospitalisation.

Kompany was taken to hospital on Friday after collapsing on the training pitch, raising concerns about his health and availability for the club’s upcoming fixtures.

Danks, who said he had visited the Belgian manager in hospital, disclosed that Kompany was in good spirits and appeared to be improving daily.

“He’s in good spirits. It looks like every day he’s getting better. There are no major updates in terms of diagnosis or a return to work; it’s very calm, let him rest, let him recover,” Danks said.

The assistant coach did not provide a specific date for Kompany’s return, indicating that the priority remained allowing him sufficient time to recover.

Bayern will continue preparing for their upcoming matches under Danks’ supervision as the club awaits further updates on its head coach.

For Kane, meanwhile, the focus is expected to remain on delivering more goals and performances after a landmark night that brought him the first Ballon d’Or of his career.