Why is a retro ball being used in Harry Kane’s Bundesliga debut for Bayern Munich?

Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich career got off to a slow start as his new side were soundly beaten in the DFL-Supercup, although RB Leipzig were already 2-0 up on the Bundesliga champions by the time the Englishman came off the bench, little over 24 hours after signing. The former Tottenham Hotspur striker, however, had rather more success on his league debut, setting up the opening goal of the new season for Leroy Sané against Werder Bremen after only three minutes.

Kane’s trademark slide-rule pass for his new teammate, as well as Bremen’s disorganised defensive line, caught the eye, but so did close-ups of the Bundesliga ball as Sané's precise shot rolled into the net.

Derbystar celebrate 60 years of Bundesliga existence

The German top flight is beginning the season with what can only described as a “retro” ball, made by national brand Derbystar, who have supplied match balls for the Bundesliga on and off since the 1970s, and exclusively since the 2018-19 season.

The the 2023-24 campaign, they have created two different balls - the Classic Official Match Ball and the “Bundesliga Brilliant APS”. The former, which is principally made up of black and white pentagons, will be used on the first two matchdays to celebrate 60 years since the foundation of the Bundesliga in its current form. The latter, which comes both in (mainly) white and orange, will take over for the remainder of the season.

How many Bundesliga titles have Bayern Munich won?

Bayern Munich have won 32 of the 60 titles competed for, including the last 11 in a row. Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach are in joint second spot with only five titles. Kane and his teammates know that anything other than a title defence will be considered an abject failure.