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Uli Hoeness re-elected as Bayern president, welcomed back by club

Uli Hoeness, whose first spell as Bayern Munich president ended when he was imprisoned for tax evasion, has been re-elected to the role.

The 64-year-old was the only candidate standing for the post at the Bavarian club's annual general meeting on Friday and, as expected, was elected to succeed Karl Hopfner, who has filled the role since Hoeness stepped down when he was imprisoned in March 2014.

Bayern announced on their website that 6,986 members had voted in favour of Hoeness resuming his tenure, 108 voted against and 58 abstained.

"I promise I won't disappoint you,'' Hoeness declared in his acceptance speech.

Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had said before the election: "Dear Uli, I wish you a beautiful, successful and emotional return to your old post as FC Bayern president.

"I'll never forget your face and your eyes when you came back to the Sabener Strasse (Bayern's training centre) for the first time on 2 January 2015.

"Your face said everything Uli has gone through. One could see you'd had extremely difficult times behind you, so we're glad you've deservedly retaken your post as president.

"I'm looking forward to working with you again. I wish for a trusting, loyal, harmonious, respectful and good cooperation for the benefit of FC Bayern. Dear Uli, welcome back.''

Meanwhile, Rummenigge gave manager Carlo Ancelotti a vote of confidence, despite the team having lost to Borussia Dortmund last weekend in Der Klassiker and to Rostov in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ancelotti's team now trails Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig by six points, after the newly promoted team brushed aside Freiburg on Friday. Bayern can cut the lead back to three with a win against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

"Carlo is the only coach around who has won the Champions League three times," Rummenigge said. "It would be a mistake to expect him to deliver the fourth straight away.

"Of course, we want to win the Champions League, but we want to take things one step at a time.

"Carlo apologised to me after the loss versus Rostov.

"I told him that we win together and that we lose together and that he has our full support."