Munich's Chris Richards is on the pitch during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg

American defender Chris Richards makes Bayern Munich debut

The Bundesliga was one of the first professional sports leagues to return to competitive play during the coronavirus pandemic. And for American defender Chris Richards he was finally able to make his competitive debut for perennial German powerhouse, Bayern Munich. The 20-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama native entered the game in the 84th minute.

Richards had signed with MLS team in April 2018, after which the franchise loaned him to Bayern FC. The following year, the young American signed a contract with Bayern Munich, directly.

American defender Chris Richards makes Bayern Munich debut
Munich’s Chris Richards, right, and Freiburg’s Changhoon Kwon from Freiburg are on the pitch during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg, Saturday, June 20, 2020. American defender Richards made his competitive debut for Bayern Munich, entering in the 84th minute of a 3-1 home win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

 

While he did make his professional debut last August with third division Bayern Munich II, Saturday’s match was with the big boys! And he made the most of his opportunity as Bayern won at 3-1 at home over visiting Freiburg in the Bundesliga match.

Richards replaced Javi Martínez in Bayern’s next-to-last league match of the season and became the first American to play for Bayern Munich since Landon Donovan (midfielder) back in 2009.

On Tuesday, Bayern FC clinched its eighth straight league title.

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