Ex-Bayern boss Hoeness gives insight into jail time

BeSoccer 9 years ago |

Reading time: minutes

Ex-Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness attends the awarding ceremony for the Moenchengladbach ring of honour on March 13, 2016 in Moenchengladbach, western Germany

Ex-Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness on Sunday gave an insight into life behind bars on his first public engagement after serving 21 months in prison for tax evasion.

The 64-year-old gave a speech in Moenchengladbach, in front of 300 guests, to honour Jupp Heynckes, who coached Bayern to the 2013 treble of Champions League, German Cup and Bundesliga titles.

The 70-year-old Heynckes was being honoured by the city where he was born having won the German league title four times as a 'Gladbach player in the 1970s.

Hoeness was released from Landsberg prison, where Adolf Hitler wrote 'Mein Kampf', a fortnight ago after being convicted in March 2014 of having evaded paying at least 28.5 million euros ($31.5 million) in taxes.

It has been a humbling two years for the man who has been instrumental in the rise of Bayern to become one of Europe's top teams.

Having spent 40 years as either a player, team manager or president of the Bavarian giants, Hoeness is now simply a high-profile fan.

"When one makes such a big mistake as I have, it is an immense pleasure and honour to be able to give a speech in honour of my friend Jupp Heynckes," said Hoeness.

He revealed how he was moved to tears in his cell in January 2015 when Heynckes sent him a video message to wish him well for his 63rd birthday.

"I have never seen something so emotional," said Hoeness.

During his dark days, Hoeness said he received a lot of support from friends and family, "but there at the front was Jupp Heynckes."

Hoeness said he was surprised by the amount of support he received from Borussia Moechengladbach, one of Bayern's fierce rivals.

"I got several handwritten letters and I sat reading them on my bed with tears in my eyes," said Hoeness.

"A lot of great support came out of Borussia Moechengladbach, which is a bit of a surprise given that I poached a few players from them as a young manager (at Bayern Munich).

Hoeness has refused to talk about his future and says he expects to announce on July 1 whether he will seek a role with Bayern.

He is expected to attend Bayern's Champions League, last 16, second-leg clash at home to Juventus on Wednesday after the away tie ended in a 2-2 draw in Turin.