Jan Kirchhoff: What Happened to Bayern Munich's Schalke Loanee?

Bayern Munich's German centre-back/central midfielder Jan Kirchhoff, 24, is tossed away on loan at Schalke.

Kirchhoff has failed to make significant progress since Bayern Munich signed him in 2013.

What has gone wrong for Kirchhoff?

Defending Bayern Munich's Decision To Sign Kirchhoff 

Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer convinced Kirchhoff not to re-up at Mainz by securing his commitment via a pre-contract during the 2013 January transfer window.

"We're delighted we've been able to bring [Kirchhoff], this highly-talented U21 international, to Bayern Munich," Sammer told Bayern Munich's official website. "I'm personally very pleased he's chosen to take on the challenge."

Running down an expiring contract at Mainz made Kirchhoff a more appealing transfer target for Bayern Munich.

As was Alexander Baumjohann, who opted against extending his contract at Borussia Monchengladbach in 2009.

Like Kirchhoff, Bayern Munich rushed in to legally bind Baumjohann to a pre-contract. 

"I believe I can make it [at Bayern Munich], otherwise I would not have taken up the offer," Baumjohann said, per Bayern's official website (h/t Sky Sports). "I'll get my chance and I'll have to use it."

Raphael Honigstein at the Guardian called Baumjohann a "prodigious bench-warmer" at Bayern Munich.

It was a backhanded compliment.

Honigstein was acknowledging Baumjohann's ability, yet pointing out his inactivity. 

In Bayern Munich's opening 17 games of the 2009-10 Bundesliga season, Baumjohann played three times, averaging 30.7 minutes per game. 

Baumjohann quit Bayern Munich for Schalke in the same season.

Consider this statistic.

Baumjohann registered more assists (eight) for 15th-placed Borussia Monchengladbach than Lukas Podolski did for second-placed Bayern Munich (seven) during the 2008-09 Bundesliga season.

One of the most talented players of his generation, Baumjohann is a virtuoso on the ball, though he has faded into obscurity. 

In a parallel universe, Baumjohann is playing for Real Madrid, while Toni Kroos is an injury-prone journeyman, only able to rectify his career on FIFA 15. 

Sure, Baumjohann failed at Bayern Munich, but he had high upside and there was evidence to back up why he was signed in 2009.

The transfer made sense. 

The same principle applies to Kirchhoff, which Honigstein tweeted was an "excellent bit of business."

Bayern Munich were probably wowed by Kirchhoff's tangibles: a fluid-moving 6'5" and 198-pound centre-back with the technical ability to interchange into midfield.

Yes, Kirchhoff only started nine out of 18 Bundesliga games for Mainz in the season before he moved to Bayern Munich, but he looked like an elite footballer when he played. 

You should adjust his passes per game (41.3) to passes per 90 minutes (60.6).

Kirchhoff—a free signing—accumulated more passes per 90 minutes for Mainz than €40/£31.7 million-valued Javi Martinez (58.2) and €15/£13 million-valued Luiz Gustavo (57.5) did for Bayern Munich during the 2012-13 season.

Why Bayern Munich Signed Kirchhoff

• No transfer fee.
• Highest-rated player at Mainz with 15 games plus, per Kicker.
• Able to play in defence and midfield. 
• Passing outlet.
• Athletic.
• Young German. 

Theoretically, Bayern Munich signing Kirchhoff on a free transfer was a shrewd move.

In practice, it hasn't worked out. 

Kirchhoff's Injury Woes

Daniel Roland/Associated Press

In 2009, then-Mainz manager Thomas Tuchel provided an update on Kirchhoff, at the time a 19-year-old, who had only played a solitary game in the 2. Bundesliga.

"Jan Kirchhoff, who unfortunately is still injured, is likewise on the pro squad," Tuchel said, speaking to Hauke Hannig at ebm-papst. "The players from our youth training centre are very well trained, but they have to learn to compete successfully against older players on the pro squad."

Kirchhoff ended up breaking through, playing 57 Bundesliga games over three seasons for Mainz.

Though, go back to Tuchel's quote and focus on the "still injured" part.

During Kirchhoff's time at Mainz, he missed around 409 days due to injury, per Transfermarkt.com.

Four months after Bayern Munich announced Kirchhoff would be joining in the summer transfer window, he "underwent groin surgery," per UEFA's official website. 

Arriving at Bayern Munich while his new team-mates were on vacation, Kirchhoff was working his way back to full fitness. 

"I'm getting to know Holger Badstuber in sports rehab at the moment," Kirchhoff told Bayern's website. "Everything's completely healed, and I can train again as normal."

Even though Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola would look up and grin at Kirchhoff's physically imposing stature, he was always on the outside looking in.

"Jan hasn't had an easy six months due to injury," Sammer said, per Bayern's website. "Jan is not under any pressure [because] we're not expecting miracles overnight."

Under Guardiola, Kirchhoff never started a Bundesliga game and averaged 14 minutes per game in seven appearances for Bayern Munich during the 2013-14 season.

Entering the 2014 January transfer window, Schalke were going through an injury-crisis, so their general manager Horst Heldt negotiated with Bayern Munich to sign Kirchhoff on loan for 18 months. 

"[Kirchhoff] stands out [due to] his heading game, his passing and his tackling," Heldt said, as reported on Schalke's website. "We're delighted the loan deal has gone through because I'm convinced that Jan will be able to help us."

On Kirchhoff's second day of training at Schalke, he suffered a high ankle sprain and was forced to go under the knife.

While joking about bonding with the team in rehab (punchline being a portion of the first-team were also injured), Kirchhoff poignantly talked about needing to show resilience again. 

"I was frustrated and a bit down, but you haul yourself through and do everything you can to get fit again as quickly as possible," Kirchhoff said, per Schalke's website. "I'll probably start back a bit earlier than the rest of my team-mates to work on my physical attributes and make sure I'm fit when we resume full training."

It would have been easy for him to sit back, loaf around and accept an easy paycheck.

Kirchhoff kept on working, even though you presume it must have been psychologically torturous. 

Kirchhoff probably felt caught in a time loop: return from injury, experience the fleeting moment of competitive football, get injured again, rehab, repeat. 

During Schalke's pre-season for the 2014-15 campaign, Kirchhoff pulled up, though it was only a minor knee complaint.

From the right knee to the left.

In Schalke's 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich, Kirchhoff damaged a tendon in his left knee last August.

"Despite spending a long time out injured and not playing that often, I feel at home [at Schalke] and have been welcomed with open arms. " Kirchhoff said, per Schalke's website. "I'm feeling well again and am thankful that everything appears to be fine."

Kirchhoff played 12 of Schalke's next 14 Bundesliga games, but when you watched him, you knew he had taken his game down a notch. 

He had a moment to forget in Schalke's 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League, when he read play, evaded the opposing player and headed home the corner—into his own net.

It was football's equivalent of Shaqtin' a Fool.

It seemed Kirchhoff momentarily thought he was in Chelsea's penalty box, and it encapsulates the downward trend he is going through.

If you statistically analyse Kirchhoff's defensive productivity when he has played 450 minutes or more in the Bundesliga, you will notice the significant drop-off this season. 

• 2014-15 (Schalke): 2.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per 90 minutes.
• 2012-13 (Mainz): 3.6 tackles and 3.4 interceptions per 90 minutes.
• 2011-12 (Mainz): 3.3 tackles and 3.1 interceptions per 90 minutes.
• 2010-11 (Mainz): 3.2 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per 90 minutes.

In addition, Kirchhoff's defensive inefficiency is another red flag.

• 2014-15 (Schalke): 52.5 tackle success rate.
  
• 2012-13 (Mainz): 74.6 tackle success rate.
• 2011-12 (Mainz): 72.2 tackle success rate.
• 2010-11 (Mainz): 75 tackle success rate.

Rated as Schalke's 19th-best player, per Kicker, Kirchhoff is in a predicament, further aggravated by the usual suspect sabotaging his career—injury.

Kirchhoff has not played a Bundesliga game since February 14, 2015 due to an Achilles tendon injury, according to UEFA's website.

"I'm completely relaxed," Kirchhoff told the official Bayern website. "There's very little expected from me so I can only come out as a positive surprise."

Kirchhoff signed for Bayern Munich under-the-radar, overshadowed by €37/£31.7 million-valued Mario Gotze and his Nike ambush marketing, as tweeted by former Bundesliga footballer Jan Aage Fjortoft.

Wearing a Nike "Go like hell" grey t-shirt, Kirchhoff did the same publicity stunt, but Gotze bore the brunt of the criticism. 

That is the only solace for Kirchhoff.

Entering Bayern Munich through the back entrance, Kirchhoff will likely leave without much attention.

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.