Harry Kane demonstrated his deep respect for Tottenham Hotspur last year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, opting not to lift the Visit Malta Cup after Bayern Munich triumphed over his former club in a pre-season friendly. It was a classy move that even the most skeptical fans would admire.
A Bittersweet Homecoming
Kane, who dedicated 14 trophy-less years to Spurs before his transfer to Bayern Munich, returned to familiar territory last August. In that match, Bayern secured a decisive 4-1 victory against Tottenham. Even as he came off the bench in the second half wearing the captain’s armband, Kane felt he could not celebrate lifting the trophy in front of the Spurs faithful he cherished.
While he narrowly missed scoring himself with a shot that flew just over the bar, the early goals by Dayot Upamecano, Serge Gnabry, and Thomas Muller sealed the win for Bayern. When it was time for the trophy presentation, Kane was seen taking off his armband and shaking his head towards Joshua Kimmich, clearly expressing that he could not lift a trophy against his beloved Spurs.
Respectful Gesture During Trophy Presentation
As a result of Kane’s decision, Bayern’s regular captain, Manuel Neuer, took charge of the trophy presentation. Kane, however, still showed his sportsmanship by applauding respectfully during the ceremony. Despite the bittersweet moment, he received special commemorative gifts from Spurs legend Ledley King before the match, alongside Eric Dier, who also made the move from Tottenham to Bayern in January 2024.
Success for Both Clubs
The past year has been rewarding for both Kane and his former club. Kane finally broke his trophy drought when Bayern secured the Bundesliga title. Meanwhile, Spurs ended their own 17-year wait for silverware by winning the Europa League.
With both teams having finally achieved their goals, their upcoming pre-season encounter promises to be a more relaxed affair. Tottenham is set to face Bayern at the Allianz Arena on August 7 at 5:30 PM. Now that both sides have lifted trophies, we might even see Kane celebrate this time—though it might be wise to hold off on any betting just yet, lads.