Bayern Munich Facts and History



Full name:

FC Bayern München AG

Nickname(s):

Der FCB (The FCB),
Die Bayern (The Bavarians),
Die Roten (The Reds),
FC Hollywood

Founded:

1900

Home stadium:

Munich

Chairman:

Franz Beckenbauer

Manager:

League:

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich Overview

FC Bayern Munich is a German Football club based in Munich. Founded in 1900, it is one of the most successful clubs in football history with 4 Champions League and 20 German Championships, to name a few! They currently play their home game at the Allianz Arena, with a capacity of 69,900.

Bayern Munich History

In 1900, some members of a Munich gymnastics club decided to form a football club. Bayern Munich won its first title in 1909, as champions of the Bavarian league. A few years later, in 1926, they won the South German Championship.

In 1932, they won the German championship by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0. However, the advent of Hitler and World War II stopped Bayern's development. At that time, the President of the club and the coach were Jewish, and they left the country to survive.

After World War II, Bayern played in Oberliga Süd, one of five upper league conferences, until the creation of the professional league in 1963, the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, they suffered relegation in 1955, the first and only time this has happened! However, the following season, they won the German Cup (1956).

In 1966, with players such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Sepp Maier, Bayern finished third in their first season in the top flight. Moreover, they also won the German cup, qualifying for the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup: they went on to win the competition in a memorable final against Rangers, thanks to Beckenbauer who scored the only goal of the game in extra-time!

Despite wining the 1967 German Cup, but following a slow progress in the Bundesliga, a new coach was appointed: Branko Zebec. He completely changed the offensive style of the Bayern play and went on to win the first double league and Cup in Bundesliga history, using only 13 players throughout the season!

In 1970, Udo Lattek was named as new manager. In fact, Borussia Mönchengladbach, who were promoted to the Bundesliga in the same year as Bayern, emerged as serious rivals to Bayern's supremacy. They would eventually win the 1970 German Championship. Therefore, on the recommendation of Beckenbauer, Udo Lattek was appointed as new coach. In his first season, he managed to win the German Cup. Moreover, in 1971, he led Bayern to their 3rd league titles. Actually, Bayern claimed the title in the last match of the season, in a 5-1 victory against Schalke 04! It was the first match in the new Olympic and also the first live televised match in Bundesliga history! Moreover, six players from Bayern were part of the German squad that won the 1972 European Championship! Bayern would eventually win the next 2 German championships.

In 1974, they became the 1st German team to win the European Cup: in the last seconds of the game, defender Georg Schwarzenbeck scored an equalizer against Atletico Madrid. 2 days later, the first ever replay of a European Cup final saw Bayern wining the cup 4-0, with 2 goals each from Uli Hoeness and Gerd Müller! In the following season, they defended their European title in a 2-0 victory over Leeds United! In 1976, Bayern managed to reach the European Cup Final again, defeating French club AS Saint Etienne 1-0. Bayern became the third, and to date last team to win the trophy in three consecutive years! The same year, they won the Intercontinental Cup against Brazilian club Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte.

In the 1980s, Bayern renewed with domestic successes, wining the Bundesliga in 1980 and 1981. Moreover they won the 1982 German Cup. With players such as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Klaus Augenthaler and striker Dieter Hoeness, they managed to reach the 1982 European Cup Final, which they lost 1-0 against English club Aston Villa. However, the next 2 seasons were unfruitful, and the club was facing financial issues. They sold Rummenigge to Inter for a world-record fee of €5 Million, losing a superstar but restoring their finance! In 1984, they won the German Cup: it was the beginning of a new, successful era. They went on to win 5 championships in 6 seasons, including a double in 1986! However, in 1987, they finished runner-up of the European Cup, losing the final against Porto 2-1.

After their 1990 championship win, the club, Bayern went trophyless until 1994, when Beckenbauer returned to the club as head coach: after a 3 year gap, they won the 1994 Championship! Meanwhile, in the 1991-1992 season, they were almost relegated, finishing 5 points only above relegation places! Following his success, Beckenbauer was appointed as club president. However, his successors as coach did not meet expectations: he dismissed coach Ribbeck and took control of the team himself, leading them to win the 1996 UEFA Cup, beating French team Bordeaux in the final. During that campaign, Jürgen Klinsmann established a new record, scoring 15 goals in the competition.

Bayern would eventually win the 1997 German Championship and the 1998 German Cup, before Ottmar Hitzfeld was appointed as the new head coach. In his first season, he won the Bumdesliga and even reached the final of the Champions League. However, they lost 2-1 against [Manchester United, conceding 2 goals in injury time! The following season, led by goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and midfielder Stefan Effenberg, the team managed to reach the Champions League semi-finals, being eliminated by eventual winners Real Madrid (0-2, 2-1). On a national level, they won their 3rd double (league and cup)!

The 2000-2001 season was very fruitful for Bayern. They won their 3rd consecutive league title on the final day, and a few days later, they finally won the Champions League, 25 years after their last European success, defeating Valencia CF in Final. During the campaign, they took their revenge on Manchester United and Real Madrid, beating them respectively in the quarter-finals and in the semi-finals. In spite of their success, they went trophyless in the Bundesliga the following season, but they managed to win their 2nd Intercontinental Cup against Boca Junior.

In the 2002-2003 season, Bayern won their 4th double, winning the Bundesliga by a record margin. However, they were knocked out of the Champions League in the first Round Stage. In 2004, after 8 years as head coach, Hitzfeld was sacked, following poor results: they finished runner-up in the Bundesliga, and suffered a cup elimination by 2nd division Alemannia Aachen. He was replaced by Felix Magath, who led them to win a double in the 2004-2005 season.

At the beginning of the 2005-2006 season, Bayern moved from the Olympic Stadium to the new Allianz Arena: in fact, Bayern and local rivals TSV 1860 own the stadium together. And again, Bayern won the double, their 5th one. However, their European campaign ended quickly, when they lost 4-1 against AC Milan in the Round of 16.

In January 2007, following a poor start in the season, legendary coach Hitzfeld returned to Bayern: despite his best efforts, they finished 4th in the Bundesliga, lost the German Cup and didn’t qualify for the Champions League! They also lost several of their best players, including Ballack and Lizarazu. Therefore, they decided to re-arrange the team, signing new players such as Luca Toni and Frank Ribery.

Club Rivalries

As the most successful club in German Football history, Bayern has had many rivals.

On a national level, it includes Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04. Their main local rivals are TSV 1860 Munich, who was a very successful club in the 1960s, wining a cup and a championship. However, the rivalry lost importance over the last decade: actually, they are often referred to as "gymnasts" by Bayern’s fans, insinuating a lack of football honours.

On an international level, Bayern’s rivals are Real Madrid, Manchester United and AC Milan.

Stars of the Current Squad

Luca Toni is an Italian striker who started his professional career in 1994. After many years in small clubs like Modena and Brescia, Luca Toni was signed by ambitious Palermo in Serie B, in 2003. In August 2004, he made his debut in the national team as a substitute in a friendly against Iceland: it was also Marcello Lippi’s debut. Toni scored his first goal against Norway. In 2006 he won the European Golden Boot. On May 30, 2007, he signed a 4 years contract with Bayern for a €11 million transfer fee.

Miroslav Klose is a German striker. The man was born to play the World Cup. In two appearances, he scored 10 goals. He is the first in history to score 5 or more goals in consecutive WCs. The polish born player is the kind of striker Germany always can count in as his average is almost 0.5 goals per game as an international. After playing for Homburg, Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen, he joined this season Bayern Munich for an estimated fee of €15m.

Franck "Bilal" Ribery is a French midfielder. He started his professional career in 2004 with French club FC Metz. Runner-up of the 2006 FIFA World Cup with the French National Team, he is well known for his acceleration and became in only 1 year the successor of Zidane. After 2 amazing seasons playing for Marseilles, he was transferred to Bayern Munich in 2007 for a €26 million fee, becoming in a few games one of the key players of his new team.

Oliver Kahn is a German goalkeeper who started his professional career in 1987. In 1994, he was transferred to Bayern Munich, his current club. So far, he has won 7 German titles, 5 German Cups, the 1996 UEFA Cup, and the 2001 Champions League and Confederation Cup. He also played for the German National Team, from 1994 to 2006. “The Titan” is one of the best goalkeepers in football history!

Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld is a former striker and is currently Bayern’s manager. Actually, he first managed Bayern from 1998 to 2004 and led them to renew with Victory!! One of the most successful German coach, he was named twice Coach of the Year (1997 and 2001) and is the only manager, besides Ernst Happel, to have won the UEFA Champions League with 2 different clubs (Boussia Dotmund and Bayern Munich).

Bayern Munich Legends

Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach and a former sweeper (libero). Also known as der Kaiser ("the emperor"), he is considered as the greatest German player of all-time, and one of the best in the history of football! Named twice Ballon d’Or (European Player of the Year), he played most of his career for Bayern (1964-1977), earning 427 caps and scoring 60 goals! He won, among other honours, 3 consecutive Champions League (1974, 1975 and 1976)! He also played for West Germany, appearing 104 times and playing in 3 World Cups. He won the 1974 World Cup, lifting the trophy as captain.

Stefan Effenberg is a former German midfielder. He started his professional career in 1987 with Borussia Mönchengladbach before moving to Bayern in 1990. He left Bayern 2 years later, went to Fiorentina before moving back to his first club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, from 1994 to 1998. He then signed again with Bayern, and won the 2001 Champions League as captain. The same year, he was named UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player! On an international level, he earned 35 caps and scored 5 goals for the German National Team.

Gerd Müller is a former German striker. With a personal record of 565 appearances and 489 goals, he is one of the most prolific strikers of all-time. Also known as “Bomber der Nation” (the nation's Bomber), he was named Ballon d’Or in 1970 and German Player of the Year in 1967 and 1969. He joined Bayern Munich in 1964: his partnership with Beckenbauer and Maier led the team to win 4 German Championships, 4 German Cups, 3 consecutive Champions League and 1 Intercontinental Cup! He scored 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches for Bayern Munich and 78 goals in 62 German Cup games!! He also played for the German National Team, scoring 68 goals in 62 games. Moreover, he won the 1972 Euro and the1974 World Cup! In 2000, he was named World Football's Greatest Goalscorer of All Time!

Most Appearances

Rank	Player	Career Dates	# Appearances
1.

Most Goals

Rank	Player	Career Dates	# Goals
1.

Player Recognition & Awards

Gerd Müller

• German Footballer of the Year – 1967, 1969
• Ballon d’Or (France Football) – 1970

Franz Beckenbauer

• German Footballer of the Year - 1966, 1968, 1974, 1976
• Ballon d’Or (France Football) – 1972, 1976

Sepp Maier

• German Footballer of the Year - 1975, 1977, 1978

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

• German Footballer of the Year – 1980
• Ballon d’Or (France Football) – 1980, 1981

Paul Breitner

• German Footballer of the Year – 1981

Lothar Matthäus

• German Footballer of the Year – 1999

Oliver Kahn

• German Footballer of the Year – 2000, 2001

Michael Ballack

• German Footballer of the Year – 2003, 2005

Team Honours

• German Championship (20): 1931/32, 1968/69, 1971/72, 1972/73, 1973/74, 1979/80, 1980/81, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06
• German Cup (13): 1957, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006
• League Cup (6): 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007
• Intercontinental Cup (2): 1976, 2001
• UEFA Champions League (4): 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001
• European Cup Winners’ Cup: 1967
• UEFA Cup: 1996

LeagueThe 2000-2001 season was very fruitful for Bayern. They won their 3rd consecutive league title on the final day, and a few days later, they finally won the Champions League, 25 years after their last European success, defeating Valencia CF in Final. During the campaign, they took their revenge on Manchester United in the quarter-finals, wining the 2 legs 1-0 and 2-1. They then defeated Real Madrid in the semi-finals (1-0 and 2-1).

Club Management

Chairman: Franz Beckenbauer

Head Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld

On January, 2008, it was announced that Jürgen Klinsmann would succeed Ottmar Hitzfeld as manager, signing a two year contract for 8 million per year!

Uniforms

Home: red and white striped hirt, red shorts

Away: white shirt with red trim, white shorts

Stadium

From 1925 to 1972, Bayern played their home game at the Grünwalder Stadion: actually, they were sharing the stadium with 1860 Munich. In 1972, they moved to the Olympic Stadium, which was built by the city of Munich for the 1972 Olympic Games. Eventually the stadium had a capacity of 63,000 for national matches, and 59,000 for international fixtures.

In 2002, Bayern and TSV 1860 jointly decided the construction of a new stadium, The Allianz Arena, which cost a total of €340 million! It has a capacity of 69,901 and is one of the most modern stadiums in the world. However, during the 2006 summer, 1860 Munich had to sell its shares due to a financial crisis. The inaugural game was played on May 30, 2005.

Sponsors

• Deutsche Telekom
• Audi
• Siemens
• Lufthansa Airlines
• Coca-Cola

Bayern Munich is a run like a stock company: 90% of FC Bayern München AG is owned by the club, and 10% by Adidas

Henry Wary Of Facing Arsenal

Former Gunner Thierry Henry admitted he would have mixed emotions if Barcelona drew Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

The draw takes place on Friday and Henry, who spent eight years with the Londoners, feels it would be strange to come up against his fprevious employers. "Of course it would be special to draw Arsenal. Everyone knows that. It will be a really weird feeling if we get them because of the love I have for the club and the fans," he told The Sun.

"I haven't had the chance to go back to The Emirates to watch a game since I joined Barcelona (in 2007).

"We play on Sunday quite often in Spain and with training the day before and Champions League matches as well it has not been possible to get there.

"A lot of people are still there from my time at Arsenal - not just players but people behind the scenes who make it such a great club."

He added: "I'm not saying I'd prefer to avoid them but if we get Arsenal in the draw it will be really weird."

Ibrahimovic Hungry For More Goals

Inter Milan target man Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits he is playing the best football of his career.

The Sweden international netted twice in last weekend's 2-0 win over Fiorentina, taking his tally to 17 goals for the season.

"Without question, this is my best year. But I believe I still can improve my numbers," he said.

Despite his form Ibrahimovic admitted his great disappointment at exiting the Champions League courtesy of Manchester United.

"The Champions League was my first priority this season. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way. Now we have other aims to focus on like the league title and the Coppa Italia," he added.

Inter currently enjoy a seven-point cushion at the top of the Seria A table, with 10 games remaining in the season.

Klinsmann Says Bring On Barca

Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann welcomes the challenge of meeting Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"This is a huge incentive for all of us, to mix it with the best team in Europe at the moment," he told his club's official website.

"That is something really special. Barcelona are a tough nut to crack. But everything is doable. That is what we believe. We don't need to hide."

General manager Uli Hoeness believes playing the second leg at home could prove decisive.

"That is a great story for our club. We always said when we play against the big boys then we want to be away first.

"And we have got that. For our fans it is a dream to have Barca in the second leg at the Allianz Arena."

The first leg will take place at the Nou Camp on 8 April, with the return in Bavaria on 14 April.

Row at Portsmouth as Gekas hits out at Hart

An interesting row has broken out at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park. Greek striker Theofanis Gekas moved to Pompey on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in January

In the club’s first two games following his move, Gekas was an unused substitute. Since then, he has not made the squad for any of the three games. It is fair to say that Gekas is pretty cross about that!

“I don’t deserve something like this, such treatment. I think my CV is worthy of respect. Through my efforts on the field in the past year, I’ve shown people what I’m capable of. I deserve more respect. I didn’t walk away from Leverkusen - a club going for the German Championship - in order to come over here, at a club fighting for survival only, and be seated in the stands. I didn’t come here just to train with the rest of the team. I don’t care if there’s a new manager, I only know Mr Hart keeps ignoring me without even giving me a single, simple, explanation. He should give me a chance first and then, if I fail, he can judge me.”

Manager Paul Hart says that it is difficult to pick Gekas, who was signed by former manager Tony Adams, as he hasn’t ever seen him play.

“I understand his frustration, but a lot of people are frustrated in life. Theo’s been unfortunate which I’ve said before. He’s been here a week and the manager that signs him leaves, so I don’t think anybody has seen him in the time that he’s there. It’s unfortunate for him but he’s got to get his head down and be ready to be called upon if and when.”

The twenty-eight year old striker is an experienced player who has scored thirteen goals in thirty-six matches for Greece. He played for various Greek clubs before moving on loan from Panathinaikos to Bochum in the German second division.

Success

He then signed for Bayer Leverkusen where he enjoyed some success scoring thirteen league goals in thirty-eight games. Despite his reasonable scoring record he was not a favourite of coach Michael Skibbe and was often left out of the team. Many of his appearances at the club came from the bench.

The omission of Gekas has baffled some Pompey fans who fail to see the logic of keeping an international striker in the stands and at a time of financial difficulty for the club, paying him to do nothing.

Reputation

Paul Hart says that he won’t play him until he has at least seen him play in a reserve game and Gekas remains insistent that his reputation justifies an opportunity in the Pompey first team.

So, in this battle of wills between manager and player who is right?

I can see the point of the fans. Why on earth should a recognised international striker who is presumably being paid handsomely not be given a chance in a team that is teetering on the brink of relegation and has only scored eleven goals in their last twelve games?

I can see the point of Paul Hart. He has Peter Crouch, David Nugent and Kanu and he hasn’t seen Gekas play. It would be one heck of a risk to use a player in those circumstances when he doesn’t have to. In the five games in which he hasn’t featured Pompey have picked up two good away draws and a home win.

I can see the point of Theofanis Gekas. He must be incredibly frustrated and he must be wondering what on earth he is doing on the South Coast of England.

Least sympathy

I guess that the argument I have least sympathy with is that of Gekas. Last season he started twenty games for Bayer and came on as a substitute nine times. This season he hadn’t started a game and had made fifteen substitute appearances for Bayer and one for Greece.

So when he talks of walking away from the title chase in Germany he was hardly a major part of it.

Surely he must be able to see that it was simply unfortunate that the man who signed him was sacked soon afterwards.

He can hardly be match fit with only sixteen substitute appearances to his name all season and he must be completely mad if he thinks this public outburst is likely to make his manager reconsider his position!

It would certainly be interesting to be a fly on the wall at the next meeting between the pair!

Premier League: Man Utd meltdown, Stoke win

A Manchester United meltdown at Craven Cottage blew the title race wide open as Fulham beat them 2-0 while Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney both saw red.

GettyImages

Sir Alex Ferguson and the Man Utd bench sit in shock after conceding a second goal against Fulham

Danny Murphy gave the Cottagers the lead from the spot after Paul Scholes had handled Bobby Zamora's header on the goalline, referee Phil Dowd showing the midfielder a red card.

Zoltan Gera then doubled Fulham's advantage late in the game with an acrobatic shot from inside the area after good work from Andy Johnson.

Manchester United's impending defeat proved too much to bear for Wayne Rooney who got a second yellow card for dissent.

Second-placed Chelsea couldn't close the gap on the league leaders though after a 1-0 reverse at White Hart Lane against Spurs.

Aaron Lennon created the goal as his early cross was met by Luka Modric, who finished crisply from the edge of the area into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Ryan Shawcross scored a precious goal as Stoke won the battle of the basement against Middlesbrough at The Britannia.

With just six minutes left of a poor game, Rory Delap hurled a right-wing throw into the penalty area and Shawcross escaped his marker to deflect the ball into the far corner of the net.

Boro have now failed to score in seven of their last nine league matches and have not won away from home since November 9.

West Ham withstood late pressure at Ewood Park to earn a point with struggling Blackburn.

The Hammers grabbed the opener in the 35th minute when Tristan's neat pass across the box set up Noble to sweep a low shot from the right across Robinson and into the far corner of the net.

Substitute Keith Andrews had only been on the pitch for six minutes when he lashed home a right-foot shot from a tight angle to pull the scores level.

Despite late pressure from Rovers, and chances for Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy, the game ended in stalemate.

West Brom and Bolton shared the points at The Hawthorns.

Matthew Taylor looked to have given Bolton their first away win for four months but with eight minutes remaining Danny Shittu deflected a low Robert Koren drive past Jussi Jaaskelainen for the equaliser.

Peter Crouch scored twice as Pompey came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Fratton Park and breathe new life into their battle for survival.

Everton took the lead after just four minutes through a Leighton Baines free kick but Crouch equalised soo after, heading home after a nod across goal from Glenn Johnson.

Crouch then slotted the match winner with 20 minutes left, rising to head home Sean Davis' corner.

Arsenal punished struggling Newcastle, winning 3-1 at St James' Park.

Obafemi Martins missed a first half penalty for Newcastle after Manuel Almunia had brought down Ryan Taylor. The Spanish 'keeper atoned for his foul by saving the spot kick.

Nicklas Bendtner gave Arsenal the lead with a header in the second half but Newcastle were level just a minute later thanks to a volley from Martins.

But after Steven Taylor had gone off the field for treatment, Abou Diaby sautered through the Toon's backline to fire the Gunners back in front.

Samir Nasri then added a third as what little confidence Newcastle had ebbed away.

Drogba cautioned over throwing coin at Burnley fans

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has received a caution for allegedly throwing a coin at Burnley fans during a match in November, it emerged on Saturday.
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The 30-year-old star went to a London police station on Friday and was cautioned for common assault.

He was said to have thrown the coin after he was on the receiving end of at least one missile during the Carling Cup fourth round tie at Stamford Bridge.

The incident took place when Drogba scored his first goal of the season after 27 minutes of the game.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "On December 2, police interviewed a 30-year-old man under caution, by prior arrangement, in connection with an incident at the Chelsea v Burnley match at Stamford Bridge on November 12.

"He did not attend the police station and was not arrested.

"The matter was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for their consideration, and on their advice the man attended a central London police station yesterday and was cautioned for common assault.''

Burnley won the match on penalties.