Starting a job in a foreign city where you don’t speak the language and without family support is difficult. When you’re Bayern Munich’s expensive spearhead and expected to please 80,000 expectant fans who have little tolerance for fluctuations, it’s a tough call.
It’s a good thing that Harry Kane is a valuable asset when it comes to scoring goals. “It was obviously a good start to the season,” he says with a galactico understatement, considering he’s breaking records almost every week.
Kane has scored 22 goals in just 18 games since his move to the Bundesliga giants, including three hat-tricks and a wonder goal from inside his own half. Not so shabby.
Of course, many footballers move around the world at a young age and Kane, 30, has plenty of life experience to draw on as he rebuilds his life in Germany. And he seems more than ready for the challenge. “New team, new magazine – I’m just excited to be here,” he says with genuine enthusiasm.
And yet it’s not easy, considering he has four young children, including baby Henry, born in August. When we speak via video call, Kane has been living in a hotel for months and still seems relaxed about the situation. “I enjoy the new environment,” he emphasizes, “it’s fun to just experience different cultures.” And yes, that includes the famous photo of him wearing lederhosen, promoting a German beer sponsor. “It’s a pretty cool tradition, but the shorts were heavier than I thought,” he deadpans.
He’s clearly thinking about family, though, so I ask him if little Henry is doing well in Blighty. “Yes, he’s doing well… he’s growing up very quickly,” he says, before saying he’d like to move the whole family out of London.
And it looks like they might all be together under one roof for Christmas. German tabloid Bild reports that Kane has finally found a house in Munich where the family will soon move.
Kane clearly has deep roots in the capital, though, and it doesn’t take much digging to pinpoint what he misses about his old life in the big smoke. It starts with the inevitable friends and family, but quickly expands. “Just that homely feeling. Familiar environment… a local dog walk – or a restaurant.”
Soon we’re talking ruefully about his favorite London golf courses and idyllic dog walking routes as if he’s never left. ‘When I was more in Essex or East London it was Epping Forest. Since I moved to Hampstead I’ve been taking them over [to] the Heide and they enjoy that.”
Kane has two dogs, Brady and Wilson, which he clearly loves. “One of them was named after Tom Brady,” he explains, before adding: “My wife actually named the other one Wilson. People just assumed it was for Russell Wilson [the NFL star]. But it was pure coincidence.” When you’re the captain of The Three Lions, even your dogs are easily misunderstood.
No doubt he longs for something more substantive in the old town than a pleasant walk. “A nice place in London that I often visited is a restaurant called Beast. It’s a steak restaurant, and they have delicious crab dishes there.” This is indeed a less modest choice, as Beast in Chapel Place is widely regarded as one of the best surf and turf restaurants in London.
As a loser, we discuss what other sports Kane could excel in besides football. “Good question. I really like American sports,” he muses, before adding: “Maybe I would have gone to America and tried a little bit in the NFL.”
Now Kane has talked about playing in the NFL before and I assumed this was a joke. It turns out he’s dead serious here. “I don’t think it’s a laughing matter. I think it’s more about exploring that option.”
When I ask why he thinks such an extreme change of pace will work, Kane gives me a sales pitch like I’m an NFL scout. “I just think I was able to kick in those situations — a lot of pressure situations.” He thinks for a moment, as if this can become a reality by convincing me: ‘I know it will take a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication. It won’t be so easy to just get up and do it.
Will his fantastic gridiron move happen? “Yeah, let’s see,” Kane says enigmatically, “I’ve always said it depends on certain situations and circumstances,” he says, clearly warming to the idea, without ever saying what those circumstances might be. But fear not, Bayern (and England) fans, because he ultimately makes it clear: “I still have plenty of years left in my football career. And relax.
Since he’s in such a thoughtful mood, we explore what the future might look like when Harry hangs up his boots for the last time. “I don’t feel like finishing football and not having anything to do,” he admits, casually steering the conversation to Our Pure Planet, the new sustainable electronics brand of which he is now co-owner and brand ambassador .
Kane talks animatedly about why he’d like to be involved with this particular company – and why it’s not a straight promotional deal. This involves a spoonful of personal growth, but it’s largely about shared values. “So when I talk about it, when I wear it, we’re all in it together,” he says seriously.
It turns out there are two main reasons for this. The first is the environmental credentials of this brand, which uses almost entirely recycled plastics and also claims to have no carbon impact. This idea clearly made a big impression on Kane.
“With Our Pure Planet we are talking about being greener. I’m not an expert in this field, but I think every little difference we can make – and that I can make at this company – goes a long way.” Who can argue with that?
The less expected dimension is that this brand is relatively affordable. For example, the Platinum Bluetooth headphones supplied for this interview (hey, I’m the technology editor) cost less than a hundred pounds and still feature active noise cancellation (ANC). These aren’t the flashiest headphones I’ve tried, but they perform well and offer good value for money. I wonder if it was a conscious choice.
“I’m just a normal guy,” he explains, adding, “I think [headphones] Being affordable is important.” This is quite astonishing to hear from a professional athlete, let alone a footballer, so Kane seems more socially conscious than most. “Not everyone can afford the big luxury brands,” he says.
Given his views on the environment and the cost of living, I then ask what Kane thinks about FIFA’s completely insane (my words, not his) plan to stage the 2030 World Cup on three continents and allow fans to travel bizarre miles travel to show their support. ploughing. He practices diplomacy and refuses to get carried away. However, Gareth Southgate, the England manager, stated that he was “not a fan” when speaking to the media before the team’s recent matches in October.
One trait that successful business people and sports stars have in common is the ability to overcome adversity.
His Harry Kane Foundation helps young people improve their mental health, so I ask for his top tip for building resilience.
“I learned a lot about my work ethic and my mentality, knowing that I can get through tough moments and come out the other side. When something doesn’t go well, I remind myself that the odds are now in my favor. The chance of a new setback is smaller than missing an opportunity.”
This is a nice insight, even if the math feels a bit iffy – and yet Kane has plenty more to say about his personal blueprint for excellence. I want to understand how the experiences from all his years as an elite competitor can help us mortals outside the sporting cauldron. What gold has Harry collected?
“Instead of sulking, blaming others or moaning, I take responsibility for my actions and choices, I take responsibility myself. This is something important I have learned throughout my career: to take control of every moment, whether it is good or bad.” And in fact, no one has ever accused him of shirking responsibility.
To warm up, we talk about the music he loves – and what tunes he’d unleash in the inner sanctum of the team’s locker room, if he could play DJ. After all, everyone strives to do this at least once.
This cheers up Kane and he’s clearly having fun now that we’re doing the fun stuff. “I don’t choose the music for the dressing room. I leave that to a few other guys,” he chuckles. Yet all it takes is a gentle nudge for Harry to offer us a glimpse into his personal soundscape. “I’m into my country music right now,” he says, leaning forward conspiratorially, “…a little Luke Combs recently.”
Since I’m not a fan of country music – nor have I heard of Luke Combs, the multi-platinum selling artist – I ask if Kane has ever tried line dancing, because, honestly, that’s the only cultural reference I can think of in the genre. “I haven’t done line dancing, no,” he says serenely, as if this were the most sensible question of the entire interview.
“Previously played a bit of country [a match] on a match day in the dressing room, would not go down very well with some boys,” he concludes. So if that was Harry’s musical master plan, he definitely needs headphones.
Harry Kane is owner and brand ambassador of Our Pure Planet www.ourpureplanet.com