The 5:30 a.m. Commute That Forged Bayern Munich's Michael Olise

Key facts

• Michael Olise, 24, has scored 20 goals and provided 29 assists in 47 appearances for Bayern Munich this season.
• Olise left home at 5:30 a.m. to avoid London traffic, arriving at Reading's training ground hours early and often falling asleep in his car.
• Chelsea released Olise at age 14; Manchester City let him go after one year; he joined Reading at 15.
• Bayern Munich paid €53 million for Olise in 2024; the fee has already been justified by his performances.
• Olise's 29 assists this season approach Lionel Messi's 2011-12 record of 31 assists.
• Olise featured in Bayern's 4-5 Champions League classic against Paris Saint-Germain.
• Mark Bowen, now sporting director at Forest Green Rovers, coached Olise at Reading and shared the anecdote on ZDF's Bolzplatz.

A Teenager Asleep in the Car Park

Every morning at Reading FC's training ground, the senior players would arrive to find a curious sight: Michael Olise, then a teenager breaking into the first team, fast asleep in his car. His former coach, Mark Bowen, recalled on ZDF's Bolzplatz that he would have to rap on the glass to wake him for the session. Olise had left his family home in London as early as 5:30 a.m. to beat the capital's notorious traffic. "He said he didn't want to get stuck in traffic and didn't want to spend too long in the car," Bowen explained. The result was that Olise would arrive hours before his teammates and nod off at the wheel. Bowen, now sporting director at fifth-tier Forest Green Rovers, defended the young player to the senior squad: "He might be late for training, but while you were still in bed he was already out in the car park."

Rejected by Chelsea and Manchester City

Olise's path to the top was far from linear. He spent a brief period in Arsenal's youth setup before joining Chelsea at age seven, where he remained for seven years. Yet at 14, Chelsea released him despite his obvious talent. He moved straight to Manchester City, but his stay there lasted only a year. Bowen still wonders why those elite clubs let him go. "The only thing I can put it down to is that perhaps those clubs saw his confidence as a negative," he said. "That, in their opinion, he perhaps should have been a bit more humble." At 15, Olise joined Reading, then an English second-tier club (now in the third tier). Less than two years later, he broke into the first team under Bowen, becoming a regular before moving to Crystal Palace in 2021.

The €53 Million Gamble That Paid Off

After establishing himself in the Premier League at Crystal Palace, Olise earned a transfer to Bayern Munich in 2024 for a fee of €53 million. The investment has already been vindicated. In 47 appearances this season, the 24-year-old winger has amassed 20 goals and 29 assists across all competitions. His Champions League tally includes five goals, most recently in Bayern's thrilling 4-5 classic against Paris Saint-Germain. Those numbers place him among the world's elite, drawing comparisons to rising stars like Lamine Yamal. Olise is also closing in on historic marks set by Lionel Messi, who recorded 31 assists in the 2011-12 season. With 29 assists already, the French international is within striking distance of that benchmark.

A Mindset That Separates the Elite

Bowen's anecdote encapsulates the discipline that underpins Olise's talent. While others slept, Olise was already at the training ground, preparing. His willingness to sacrifice comfort for marginal gains—leaving home before dawn to avoid traffic—reflects a mindset that coaches often cite as the difference between good and great. "The rise of Michael Olise is no coincidence," Bowen said. "Behind great talent, there is often an even greater mindset." That mindset has carried Olise from Reading's car park to the Allianz Arena, where he now dazzles on the biggest stage. His journey serves as a counterpoint to the notion that talent alone determines success. The same confidence that may have been seen as a flaw at Chelsea and Manchester City has become a cornerstone of his game at Bayern.

What Comes Next for Olise

With 20 goals and 29 assists already this season, Olise is on pace to shatter his personal bests. Bayern Munich, who invested heavily in his signature, are reaping the rewards as he becomes a focal point of their attack. The club's faith in him has been repaid in full just under two years after his arrival. As the season progresses, Olise's name will increasingly be mentioned alongside the sport's luminaries. His ability to combine work rate with flair—honed during those early mornings in Reading—has made him one of the most exciting players in world football. For now, the 24-year-old continues to prove that the clubs who let him go made a miscalculation. His story is a reminder that the path to greatness is rarely a straight line, and that sometimes the most important work happens before anyone else arrives.

The bottom line

• Michael Olise's extreme discipline—waking at 5:30 a.m. to commute from London to Reading—was key to his development.
• Chelsea and Manchester City both released Olise as a teenager, possibly misreading his confidence as arrogance.
• Olise joined Reading at 15 and broke into the first team within two years, eventually moving to Crystal Palace and then Bayern Munich for €53 million.
• In his first full season at Bayern, Olise has 20 goals and 29 assists in 47 appearances, approaching Lionel Messi's single-season assist record.
• His former coach Mark Bowen's anecdote about Olise sleeping in his car has become emblematic of the player's dedication.
• Olise's rise underscores that elite performance often stems from mindset as much as natural talent.