Kim Min-jae speaks out on reduced role at Bayern Munich

TL;DR

Kim Min-jae's role at Bayern Munich has diminished this season, losing his starting position to Jonathan Tah. Despite the change, he remains a valuable squad member and is adapting positively to his new role.

Key points

Kim Min-jae's role at Bayern Munich has diminished this season
He has lost his starting position to Jonathan Tah
Kim is adapting positively to his new role as a challenger
His contract with Bayern runs until 2028
Bayern has depth in center-back positions with Kim still available

Bayern Munich

MAINZ, GERMANY - APRIL 25: Minjae Kim of FC Bayern Muenchen during warm up prior to the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern München at MEWA Arena on April 25, 2026 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by A. Scheuber/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images Bayern Munich center-back Kim Min-jae has seen his position in the pecking order sharply decline this season. After being a fixture in the XI in his first two seasons in Bavaria, the Korean international has lost his place to last summer’s big arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, German men’s national team starter Jonathan Tah. Despite that, Kim is still playing his fair share of games, and is well into the double digits in Bundesliga starts. The adjustment has been a challenge — but it is not like he has been frozen out, either. And accordingly, Kim has accepted his new role behind Bayern’s new undisputed top-choice pairing of Tah and France star Dayot Upamecano. “I’ve never experienced a long period of not playing, so it was a bit difficult at first,” the 29-year-old shared in comments sourced to Footballist via Tz München by @iMiaSanMia. “But over time, I’ve realized there are positives. I rely heavily on my speed, and our team plays a style that demands a lot of physical effort. “So I think the current situation is good. I always thought that playing regularly was the solution, but now I’m happy with my role as a challenger.”

Q&A

Why has Kim Min-jae's role decreased at Bayern Munich?

Kim Min-jae's position has declined due to the arrival of Jonathan Tah, who has become the preferred center-back alongside Dayot Upamecano.

How is Kim Min-jae coping with his reduced playing time?

Kim has accepted his new role and is focusing on the positives, stating that he is happy as a challenger despite the initial difficulties.

What does Kim Min-jae's future look like at Bayern Munich?

With his contract running until 2028 and his current acceptance of the situation, it appears that Kim may remain at Bayern Munich for the foreseeable future.