Bundesliga
"It's an honour" - Tah on Bayern move
Vincent Kompany's new rock at the back, Jonathan Tah, has spoken to the club's member magazine '51' about joining Bayern Munich, the meaning of leadership and his time at Bayer Leverkusen.
After helping Leverkusen to a historic Bundesliga and DFB Cup double in 2023/24 and runners-up finish last term, Tah swapped the BayArena for the Allianz Arena this summer after a decade with Die Werkself.
Very much at the peak of his powers, Tah felt it was the "right time" to make the switch and has quickly settled into life in Bavaria.
"It doesn't feel uncomfortable," the 29-year-old told 51 ahead of his first campaign with Bayern. "But it was a leap out of my comfort zone, and that was very much a conscious decision.
"It's an honour for me to be seen from the outside as being able to take on a role like that at FC Bayern. I want to take on responsibility here.
"That's the expectation the club has of me, that the team probably also has of me, but above all it's the expectation that I have of myself. Nevertheless, you always first have to earn a role like that."
Watch: The best of Jonathan Tah
It's certainly a role Tah has become accustomed to.
Under Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, he grew into one of the biggest voices in the dressing room and wore the club's armband on a number of occasions.
The Germany international thrived in that role and is hoping to shoulder similar responsibility at Bayern.
"I want to take on responsibility here," said Tah. "That's the expectation the club has of me, that the team probably also has of me, but above all it's the expectation that I have of myself.
"You can only be a leader if you can lead yourself. My philosophy is ‘leading by example’: you can't demand something from others that you don't live yourself."
The sight of Tah in Bayern colours at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer will have jarred with some Leverkusen fans, so used to seeing him run out in their shirt for such a long time.
The former Hamburg defender appreciates that it may take some getting used to, but is full of gratitude for his time on the Rhine.
"I had a fantastic time at Leverkusen for 10 years; the club and I myself have developed further, and I felt it was time for me to get to know a completely new environment again," he explained.
"I'm grateful to Leverkusen for the time we spent together, but I think it's also important to scrutinise and reflect on yourself from time to time: what can I do to take another step, to grow, as a person but also as a footballer? That's why I made this decision."