Sammy Kuffour Reunites With Bayern Munich Legends to Mark 25 Years Since Champions League Triumph
- Samuel Osei Kuffour reunited with old Bayern Munich teammates as the club celebrated the 25th anniversary of their iconic 2001 Champions League triumph
- The Bavarians defeated Valencia 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw in Milan, with the match producing multiple penalties and tension over extra time
- Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn emerged as Bayern’s hero by saving three penalties, while Kuffour played 120 minutes in one of the club’s most memorable nights
Ghana’s top stories, now easier to find. Discover our new search feature!
Samuel Osei Kuffour joined Bayern Munich as the club celebrated the 25th anniversary of its historic UEFA Champions League triumph in 2001.
Bayern marked the special milestone on Saturday, May 16, 2026, by honouring the heroes of the famous 'Class of 2001' at the Allianz Arena in front of supporters during the final Bundesliga matchday of the season.
Source: Getty Images
When Bayern Munich lifted Champions League trophy
On May 23, 2001, Bayern Munich defeated Valencia CF 5-4 on penalties at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium after a dramatic 1-1 draw following extra time, as noted on UEFA's official website.
The Italian side took an early lead through a penalty from Gaizka Mendieta in the third minute after Bayern's Patrik Andersson was judged to have handled the ball inside the area.
The Bavarians had the chance to equalise shortly afterwards when Jocelyn Angloma fouled Stefan Effenberg inside the box.
However, Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares denied Mehmet Scholl by saving his penalty with his legs.
The German side were awarded another spot-kick early in the second half after Amedeo Carboni handled the ball while contesting an aerial duel with Carsten Jancker.
This time, Effenberg stepped up and sent Cañizares the wrong way to level the scores at 1-1.
Neither side could find a winner during regulation time or the additional 30 minutes of extra time, sending the final into a tense penalty shootout.
The hero of the night was legendary goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who saved three penalties during the dramatic showdown.
Bayern Munich celebrate Kuffour and teammates
To celebrate the anniversary, Bayern Munich paid tribute to the club legends involved in that memorable victory at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Ghana legend Sammy Kuffour, who played the full 120 minutes during the final, was among the stars honoured.
The celebration brought together numerous icons from that famous squad, including Stefan Effenberg, Oliver Kahn, Giovane Élber, Hasan Salihamidžić, Carsten Jancker and Samuel Kuffour, all of whom were celebrated by supporters at the Allianz Arena.
Meanwhile, on the same afternoon, Bayern Munich celebrated lifting the Bundesliga title at the Allianz Arena on Saturday after sealing an emphatic 5-1 victory over FC Koln on the final day of the season.
Harry Kane once again stole the show with a hat-trick, while goals from Tom Bischoff and Nicolas Jackson completed the dominant win.
Source: Getty Images
It was a fitting way for Bayern to finish the campaign, with the German giants adding another goal to cap an extraordinary attacking season.
They ended the Bundesliga campaign with a remarkable 122 goals in just 34 matches.
After the final whistle, Bayern players celebrated by lifting the German top flight trophy in front of their fans.
According to GOAL, it marked a historic league season for the champions, who suffered only one defeat and finished with 122 goals, the second-highest total recorded by a team in a single season across Europe’s top five leagues.
Harry Kane's unique scoring prowess
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Harry Kane had defied age and expectations by scoring a hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 6-0 Bundesliga season opener against RB Leipzig on August 22, 2026.
The remarkable display further underlined the 32-year-old's enduring class and his continued influence at the top level of European football, which many hope will translate to World Cup success.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
