Golden era to brand new dawn: Bayern Munich set for major overhaul

Bayern Munich won a record-extending seventh consecutive Bundesliga title after crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish two points ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund.

The Bavarians, who can secure a domestic double if they beat RB Leipzig in the German Cup final on May 25, have now won the German league title a record 29 times.

The 2019 title crowned what has been a glistening decade of success for Bayern, as iconic players such as Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben picked up yet another gong in their final season at the club. 

Ribery, who joined back in 2007, and Robben, who arrived two years later, then came on as substitutes and scored Bayern's fourth and fifth goals for a perfect farewell.

Ribery overtook Bayern greats Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Oliver Kahn and Mehmet Scholl among other, who have eight league crowns to their names.

The season also heralded the emergence of a new generation under coach Niko Kovac, with the likes of Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry establishing themselves as first-team regulars.

As they look ahead to next season, Bayern are not only on the verge of a generational shift, but also of what club president Uli Hoeness has called "the biggest investment programme in our history". 

Other stars of Bayern's golden decade have also seen young players emerging behind them this season.

Niklas Suele, 23, has muscled past Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng to become first choice centre-back, while Thomas Mueller has faced competition from newcomer Leon Goretzka.

In a recent interview with Munich newspaper TZ, president Hoeness said the young players' success was proof that Bayern had begun their overhaul at just the right time.

"We have gone through a transition at the highest level. We already have five or six young guys in the team and we will add a few more," he said. 

How much the successful transition is down to coach Niko Kovac, however, remains a bitterly divisive question at Bayern. 

Despite winning a gruelling title race in his first season at the club, it remains to be seen whether the Croatian will be the man who leads Bayern into the new era.

Hoeness has repeatedly backed Kovac, while CEO Rummenigge has remained sceptical, telling Sky TV that "nobody has a job guarantee at Bayern".

The coach has been unable to shake off reports that senior players are disgruntled with his leadership. 

He was defiant on Saturday, saying he was "convinced" that he would see out the remaining two years of his contract. 

"I talk to my bosses, and you get a feeling for the direction things are going in. I think I have interpreted them correctly," he said on Saturday.

Whether Kovac stays or not, the winds of change are blowing through Munich, with departures also looming at boardroom level.

Bayern have already completed the signings of World Cup winning French defenders Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez for $39.3m and a club record $89.9m respectively.

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt and Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel have all also been linked to the club in recent months.

In the picture, Rafinha is thrown in the air by teammates as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga.