While on loan at 1. FC Nürnberg, Hoeneß had negotiated a sponsorship deal with tractor manufacturer Magirus-Deutz from his hometown Ulm. The funds could be used for one purpose only: the buy-back of Paul Breitner from Eintracht Braunschweig.
Hoeneß had thus brought the revolutionary back to Munich and indirectly triggered the transformation from which he himself would benefit the most. Breitner took sporting command under new coach Pal Csernai.
And Uli — forced into retirement by his wrecked knee — became manager.
