Schweinsteiger reveals his deep Manchester United connection predates his playing days, forged by a memorable act of sportsmanship from the Stretford End.
Bastian Schweinsteiger's time at Manchester United was brief, but the connection he feels with the club and its fans has lasted far beyond the end of his playing career.
The former Germany and Bayern Munich midfielder says that bond dates back not to his own stint at United, but to a Champions League night at Old Trafford years earlier, a moment that changed how he viewed the club and its supporters.
Schweinsteiger spent the best part of his career at Bayern Munich, where he came up through the club's academy to become one of the most influential players of his generation.
He played more than 500 matches for Bayern, won eight Bundesliga titles, and finally lifted the Champions League in 2013, after losing the finals in 2010 and 2012. One year later, he added a World Cup with Germany in Brazil to his resume.
In 2015, Schweinsteiger signed for Manchester United from Bayern for £6.5 million, reuniting with manager Louis van Gaal. According to SPORTbible, he played 35 matches over two seasons before ending his playing career with a brief stint at the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.
Despite his short time in Manchester, Schweinsteiger says his fondness for United was forged many years earlier. Speaking during a Heineken-sponsored Champions League event in New York, he recalled the 2010 quarterfinal match at Old Trafford, when Bayern lost 3-2 that night, but advanced on away goals.
"Because when I was there, the people were lovely, and the fans were something very special for me," Schweinsteiger said.
He recalled how the Bayern players were sent off with applause from the Stretford End, a gesture he says left a lasting impression on him.
"I remember we walked off the pitch and the whole Stretford End stood up and showed sportsmanship, and that is something special," he explained. "The loyalty of the United fans is huge, and I am very thankful I had the chance to play for United."
Schweinsteiger said he has no regrets about not moving to England earlier. His priority, he explained, had always been to win the Champions League with Bayern and then play under Pep Guardiola, who took charge in 2013.
"Then, in 2015, it was the right time to experience the Premier League," he noted, adding that he enjoyed both the football and the culture during his time in England.
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