Serge Gnabry has been of the world football’s best wingers this season. The German International scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists for his side in all competitions this past season as Bayern won a historic treble. In the wake of that, Serge Gnabry has now been handed the historic jersey number won by Franck Ribery during his twelve years at the Allianz Arena.
Gnabry’s red-hot form last season helped Bayern recover from a difficult start to storm to the Bundesliga title under Flick, and re-establish their status as the best club side in Europe when they conquered Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon.
Over the course of his Bayern career, Ribery scored 124 goals so Gnabry knows what shoes he is stepping into. Although, on the evidence of what we have seen from the ex-Arsenal man so far, he should have no problems filling the shoes.
Asides Ribery, the number 7 jersey at Bayern has been worn by many football legends. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Mehmet Scholl and even Gnabry’s current head coach Hansi Flick are the notable ones that come to mind. Gnabry will dump his old number 22 jersey which he was presented with when he first arrived in Munich two years ago. After he completed the jersey number swap, he was clearly delighted. “I’m really looking forward to wearing this shirt number in the future. Franck has always thrilled the fans – that motivates me even more,” Gnabry said after the swap.
While Gnabry may only just be 25 years of age, he is almost considered to be a world-class player if not one already as he prepares to enter the prime of his career. Alongside Leroy Sane who will wear the number 10 jersey, Serge Gnabry could form a devastating partnership reminiscent of the deadly combination of Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben that wowed the Allianz Arena for several years. Coupled with the best player of this season Robert Lewandowski and a very much rejuvenated Thomas Muller, Bayern look set to build upon their success this season during the next one.
