Bayern München 2006

Coach: Felix Magath

Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2005-06 under Felix Magath, in what proved to be Michael Ballack's final season at the club before a high-profile free transfer to Chelsea that summer — his combination of goals from midfield and leadership made him the standout performer domestically even as the move to a bigger stage was already being reported throughout the campaign. Oliver Kahn remained the last line of defence, still commanding and combative even as a younger Bayern side took shape under Magath's demanding, fitness-focused coaching methods. The double was achieved comfortably in the league, with Bayern finishing well clear of Werder Bremen, while the cup final brought further silverware to cap the season. This squad sat in a transitional period for German football more broadly — the national team's disappointing performances in the early 2000s had prompted a wholesale reassessment of youth development that would only bear fruit years later — and Ballack's departure symbolised the financial gap that had opened up between the Bundesliga's leading clubs and the Premier League giants competing for the same elite talent.