According to “Varzesh3,” Heyncks, seven years after his farewell from Bayern Munich and the big football stage, now only occasionally follows football.

Heynckes, who turns 80 on Friday, said in an interview with Kicker: “I watch the big games, but sometimes I prefer going to the sports club rather than watching the Bundesliga.”

What bothers him the most is the “flood” of matches. He says: “The audience is oversaturated. But this is the only way the business works. Players earn incredibly high salaries, and clubs have to provide this money. Football has become completely commercialized. Matches are scheduled at inconvenient times due to TV broadcasting rights. There are just too many of them.”

Heynckes ended his long and successful coaching career in 2018 after winning the title with Bayern Munich. He says he has long overcome the sadness of retirement: “I had already done that after winning the treble in 2013. At that time, I could have continued. I had million-dollar offers from Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, and Qatar. But I had worked enough, and it was the right decision to retire at 68. It was always clear to me: there is life beyond coaching.”

Heynckes’ Life Today

Heynckes now lives with his wife Iris near Mönchengladbach and successfully underwent major heart surgery in 2022.

He says: “My condition is relatively good. In old age, you have to accept that everything becomes harder and not as easy as before. You have to be at peace with yourself and not complain about anything.” He will celebrate his 80th birthday, as he said, “very quietly and simply, in a small gathering.”