Olise's quiet chess obsession driving his rising stardom

by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Michael Olise can sometimes look distant, as if his mind has wandered. In reality, he is fully absorbed in a chess match on his phone.

Long trips on the team bus or flights often turn into quiet chess sessions for the 23-year-old Frenchman, either as a way to switch off or avoid outside noise.

Olise made an immediate impact after joining Bayern Munich in 2024, with Transfermarkt currently estimating his market value at 130 million euros (151 million U.S. dollars). His two goals and three assists in Bayern's 6-2 win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga only intensified the attention.

Inside the dressing room, teammates Lennart Karl and Harry Kane say his presence brings "a lot of fun." Fans admire his bold style of play, even if he rarely talks about it. "Yes, he can speak," midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic joked. "He's a funny guy and makes jokes in the locker room."

Chess has been part of Olise's life since childhood, a hobby introduced by his French-Algerian mother. The strategic thinking appears to mirror what Bayern coach Vincent Kompany demands on the pitch.

"This approach of constantly pressuring opponents suits me. That's how I play chess," Olise told Bayern's 51 club magazine.

Former Bayern coach Felix Magath has been impressed. "If everyone knows what's coming but can't stop it, that's world-class," he said.

Olise says Neymar was his biggest football influence while growing up. His journey included time at Manchester City, Chelsea and Reading's youth systems before breaking through at Crystal Palace.

Despite enjoying "slow thoughts and cautious moves in chess," his decisions with the ball are quick and instinctive. Hours spent playing street football with his brother Richard, now a Chelsea defender, helped shape his style.

Media reports continue to link him with top European clubs, including Manchester City, but Bayern appears determined to hold onto him.

"We can imagine having him here for a long time," Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said. Enditem