Schweinsteiger explains his lasting Manchester United love

February 5, 2026 Oliver Obel

Bastian Schweinsteiger’s time at Manchester United was brief, but the connection he feels with the club and its supporters has endured long after his playing days ended.

The former Germany and Bayern Munich midfielder says that bond can be traced back not to his own spell in red, but to a Champions League night at Old Trafford years earlier a moment that reshaped how he viewed the club and its fans.

A career defined in Munich

Schweinsteiger spent the prime of his career at Bayern Munich, progressing through the club’s academy to become one of the most influential players of his generation.

He made more than 500 appearances for Bayern, won eight Bundesliga titles and finally lifted the Champions League in 2013 after final defeats in 2010 and 2012. A year later, he added the World Cup with Germany in Brazil.

Only after achieving those goals did he consider a move abroad.

Why the Premier League came later

In 2015, Schweinsteiger joined Manchester United from Bayern in a £6.5 million deal, reuniting with manager Louis van Gaal. According to SPORTbible, he made 35 appearances across two seasons before finishing his playing career with a short stint at Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.

Looking back, Schweinsteiger says the timing of the move felt right.

The Old Trafford moment that changed everything

Despite his limited spell in Manchester, Schweinsteiger says his affection for United had been established years earlier. Speaking at a Heineken Champions League event in New York, he recalled a 2010 quarter-final at Old Trafford, when Bayern lost 3–2 on the night but progressed on away goals.

“Because when I’ve been there, the people there were so lovely, and the supporters were something very special for me,” Schweinsteiger said.

He remembered Bayern’s players being applauded off the pitch by the Stretford End — a gesture he said left a lasting impression.

“I remember we left the pitch and the whole Stretford End stood up and showed fair play, and that’s something special,” he said. “The loyalty of the fans of United is huge, and I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to play for United.”

No regrets about waiting

Schweinsteiger said he has no regrets about not moving to England earlier in his career. His priority, he explained, had always been to win the Champions League with Bayern and then play under Pep Guardiola, who took charge of the club in 2013.

“Then in 2015, it was the right moment to experience the Premier League,” he said, adding that he enjoyed both the football and the culture during his time in England.

A friendship that endured

During his time at United, Schweinsteiger also formed a close friendship with Wayne Rooney. He described the former striker as someone whose presence could immediately lift the atmosphere in the dressing room.

“When he walked in, you immediately had a smile on your face,” Schweinsteiger said, adding that the pair remain in contact.

Football, friends and shared moments

Schweinsteiger was speaking while attending a Heineken-backed Champions League viewing event in New York, part of the brand’s “Fans Have More Friends” campaign. The initiative is designed to bring supporters together and, according to Heineken, will continue through major football, Formula One and music events into 2026.

For Schweinsteiger, the evening reflected something he first felt more than a decade ago at Old Trafford: that football’s strongest connections are often formed not only through trophies, but through shared moments between players and supporters.

Sources: SPORTbible, Heineken