Tranmere to Bayern Munich - Where Dale Jennings is now after whirlwind transfer
October 11, 2012 will arguably represent the highlight of Dale Jennings’ career.
The now 30-year-old winger found himself on the scoresheet for Bayern Munich in a 2-0 friendly win against SpVgg Unterhaching. He was named in a team that included current Real Madrid star David Alaba, as well as ex-Brazil international Rafinha.
If Jennings’ name is one that you’re not familiar with, the winger’s surprise career move might jog your memory. A product of the Liverpool academy, Jennings was infamously at the heart of a £250k move from Tranmere Rovers to Bayern 12 years ago.
Explaining the deal at the time, Tranmere manager Les Parry said: “Bayern have made us a very good offer for Dale and we don't want to stand in his way of making this incredible move. When a club with the size and history of Bayern come in for you, it's the opportunity of a lifetime and I wish Dale all the best should the transfer happen.”
In the process of moving to Bavaria, Jennings became just the second Englishman to represent the German giants in their entire history. Owen Hargreaves was a popular figure at the club before his move to Manchester United, whilst Nottingham Forest star Omar Richards and England captain Harry Kane have since represented Die Roten.
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The Three Lions captain has nine goals in ten games in all competitions since his record-breaking move from Tottenham. While Kane looks set to write his name in Bayern folklore, the same cannot quite be said of Jennings.
His friendly strike represented one of just three goals he scored for the German side - the other two coming for their reserve side in the fourth tier. To his credit, injury hugely limited his contributions.
Dale Jennings in action for Bayern Munich during his debut season (Bayern Munich)What do you think is the most surprising transfer of all time? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Jennings’ goal against Unterhaching came over a year after putting pen to paper on his Bayern contract. He even revealed that he had failed his medical with Bayern, only for his agent to push through a deal.
Speaking to the Leg It Podcast last year, he said: “I had a hernia on my groin, I was out for three months [after signing for Bayern] and then did my other side. Then, I did the ligaments in my ankles. It was a bit of a nightmare of a first year.
“I failed it [the medical at Bayern] and they didn’t want to sign me. My agent, he did well, he asked them: ‘You’re the best medical staff in the world, and you’re failing him over a hernia?’ They said, we can look after him, and they put it through.’”
Just two years later, Jennings bid farewell to Bavaria without ever making a first-team appearance. The forward returned to England by signing for then Championship side Barnsley.
He revealed his disappointment at not making the grade in Bavaria but was keen for a fresh start. Speaking with BBC Radio Sheffield, Jennings said: "I was a bit gutted not to break into the first team but I learned a lot from my time at Bayern.
"I was only 18 going over there, and it took me six to eight months to get used to it. It's a very good level, the German style of playing is perhaps the best at the moment.
Dale Jennings in action for Runcorn Town in 2021 (Getty Images)"It's such a massive club it's very hard to break through. With a year left I thought it was best to move on. I was feeling a bit homesick and to be fair they said what mattered most was my happiness.”
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Jennings spent just two years at Oakwell before he joined MK Dons, where he had previously spent time on loan. He then dropped down the football ladder with moves to Runcorn Town, Prescot Cables and Ramsbottom United, while the wideman also had a short spell with Welsh non-league side Prestatyn Town.
To underline his bad fortune, he did not appear competitively for the latter due to the Covid pandemic. Some will look at Jennings’ fall as a classic case of having too much too soon but the circumstances surrounding his family life made things even harder.
His daughter Mila twice was twice diagnosed with cancer. Opening up on how tough it was to focus on football, he admitted to The Athletic: “Football became irrelevant then.
“We went through these horrible two years. She fought that [leukaemia] and got the all-clear and then two months later she was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour in her kidney.
"It was nothing to do with leukaemia – a different type of cancer altogether. By the age of six she’d had cancer twice. She has had chemo, radiotherapy and the tumour removed. It’s unbelievable what she’s been through for a little kid.”
Jennings now finds himself without a club following his stint with Prescot. Over a decade after his debut strike for Bayern Munich, he might not be a name that you’ll remember but his story is certainly one that you should.
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