As Bayern Munich struggles to overcome Kim Min-jae’s recent form slump, a broader issue in football comes into focus: the unsustainable workload faced by modern players. Can the sport find a balance between winning and player welfare?
Kim Min-jae’s recent struggles for Bayern Munich have been met with heavy criticism. The South Korean defender’s poor form has highlighted a bigger problem in football – the excessive workload faced by modern players.
Kim Min-jae is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Bayern Munich and the South Korea national team.
Born on November 15, 1999, he rose to prominence at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors before joining Fenerbahçe in 2020.
Kim's impressive performances earned him a transfer to Bayern Munich in 2022.
He made his international debut for South Korea in 2019 and has since become a key player in the team.
A Growing Problem
The issue is not unique to Kim, however. Throughout the season, he has been playing through Achilles tendonitis, an injury often linked to excessive workload. According to FIFPRO, Kim has traveled 74,000 kilometers this season across 20 international trips, and is still due to travel for World Cup qualifiers in Asia.
Excessive workload can lead to physical and mental health issues, including fatigue, stress, and anxiety.
According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), work-related stress is a major contributor to depression and anxiety disorders worldwide.
In addition, excessive workload can result in decreased productivity, absenteeism, and turnover rates.
Employers can mitigate these effects by implementing flexible work arrangements, providing regular breaks, and promoting work-life balance.
The Impact of Overload
Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury, but generally, the healing process is sped up by not doing any of the things that players are required to do for their job. For reference, just last season in the NFL, star running back Christian McCaffrey had the same injury and was sidelined for approximately eight weeks.
Load Management: A Missed Opportunity
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has been quick to defend Kim after the loss, but questions will be asked whether his load management could have been better managed. The club’s defensive injury crisis – Dayot Upamecano, Davies, and Hiroki Ito are all out – has certainly not helped.
A Push for Change
FIFPRO suggests that without safeguards, extreme workloads can spiral and elite players risk long-term damage. The importance of load management has been researched extensively, but the approach often prioritizes winning over player welfare.
Load management is a strategy used by teams to manage player workload and prevent injuries.
It involves limiting the number of games or minutes played by key players, particularly those with a history of injury or fatigue.
This approach aims to maintain team performance while ensuring long-term player health.
In professional sports, load management has become increasingly prevalent due to concerns over player burnout and increased risk of injury.
The Consequences
Inconsistent performances from top teams like Bayern Munich are a result of this approach. Players like Kim Min-jae are being pushed beyond their limits, contributing to poor form and injuries. Coaches are frustrated, fans are disappointed, and true action is missing to address the issue.
A Call for Change
“It’s time for a change in approach, prioritizing player welfare over winning at all costs.’ The modern football calendar is pushing players not just to their limit but beyond it.
