FC Bayern Munich is regarded as the flagship of German football. A brilliant squad, a well-established structure, and a huge number of notorious victories in high-level championships – that is why fans from all over the world appreciate and love this club.
It is worth having a quick look at where Bayern started and what fans remember about the team.This football club is also popular with sports betting fans. Even the ipl betting 2022 guide often cites games against Bayern as a gambling strategy.
Club history
It all started with an ordinary football section, founded in 1900, based on a Munich gymnastics union. The union leadership paid little attention to football, and so the members decided to form a separate team.
The new community of players was called Bayern, while the post-Soviet newspapers already dubbed FC Bavaria – because that is the name of the region in Russian latitudes. From the first match, the team showed that this name would be remembered by all football fans not only in their native Germany but also far beyond its borders.
Bayern’s first successful playing period is considered the period from 1924 to 1932. But football fans know that the true “golden era” of Bayern Munich was the period from 1963 to 1979 when the club had a brilliant squad and wins in tournaments followed one after another. Today, the club has gone on to win European and world tournaments, not to mention the German championships.
In the 122 years of its existence, the team has become the most decorated German club in the history of football. They are ranked third among the top teams in the last century.
Main achievements
One article would not be enough to list all the regalia and achievements of FC Bayern Munich. But a quick look at the major victories of the team, nicknamed by fans “Hollywood FC,” is worthwhile:
- German Championship winner – 32 times;
- Winner of the German Cup – 20 times;
- Winner of the League Cup – 6 times;
- Winner of the German Super Cup – 9 times;
- Champions League – 6 times;
- Winner of the UEFA Cup 1996;
- Cup Winner 1997;
- Winner of the UEFA Super Cup in 2013 and 2020;
- Winner of the Intercontinental Cup in 1976 and 2001;
- FIFA Club World Cup victories in 2013 and 2021 were also amazing.
Bayern’s six greatest victories
Football fans include the following events in this list:
- Bayern v Bordeaux (1996). The 1996 UEFA Cup final was held in Munich and Bordeaux. It is worth noting that this was the first UEFA Cup final since the early 1990s, in which no Italian club reached the final. The Germans won the first leg at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, scoring two goals and conceding none. In the second game, Bayern sealed their victory with a 3-1 win. The fans noted that both games were very bright and the overall victory (5-1) and the new German football club title were well deserved.
- Bayern v Waldberg (1997). It is not without reason that Bayern fans like to refer to the team as “the goal-scoring machine.” In August 1997, the players of German Waldberg were able to experience the full power of this machine. During the German Cup, the Bavarians were able to set a record that no one had been able to break for 25 years. The fact is that the players managed to hammer home as many as 16 goals, winning with an unimaginable score of 16-1.
- Bayern v Paris Saint-Germain (2000). Victory over PSG in 2000 earned the German football flagship the UEFA Cup. According to football analysts, it was coach Hans-Dieter Flick and his daring decisions in the decisive game. In the past three games, he had fielded an identical squad, but in the final game, Flik made a surprise substitution. Ivan Perisic was replaced by Kingsley Coman, who previously played for Paris Saint-Germain. It was this player who scored the only goal of the game.
- Bayern vs. Boca Juniors (2001). The 2001 intercontinental title match was played in Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium. More than 50,000 football fans attended the game. In this match, despite receiving a yellow card in the first half, Bayern’s defender Samuel Kuffour was named player of the match. It was this Ghanaian footballer who managed to bring his team to victory in extra time on 109 minutes.
- Bayern-Borussia (2013). Victory over Borussia Dortmund earned the Bavarians their fifth Champions League title in 2013. It was not an easy match for the team, but they managed to win the clash in the end. The Bavarians opened the scoring in the 60th minute, but their opponents did not lose heart and continuously attacked the Bayern goal.
As a result, eight minutes from time, Borussia scored the equalizer on penalties. The situation was not rectified until the 89th minute, when Arjen Robben slotted his team ahead. In the dying minutes, Borussia failed to get the score level and went into extra time. Bayern player Arjen Robben was the player of the match.
- Bayern vs Borussia (2012). It should be said that the clash between Borussia and Bayern can be called a regular occurrence. A year before the above match, the teams had another interesting encounter. In August 2012, the teams competed in the German Cup. The anniversary match took place at the Allianz Arena. The Bavarians won the 50th German Cup with a 2-1 victory.
- Bayern vs. Leon (2020). The Jose Alvalade stadium has the honor of hosting the Champions League semi-finalists in 2020. Victory over France’s Léon was essential for the Germans to reach the final. Football fans and analysts agreed it was one of the most beautiful matches of the current German Bayern line-up.
The French were thrashed without scoring a goal, with Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski the heroes of the match. Gnabry managed to score two goals against his opponents at 18 and 33 minutes, while Lewandowski sealed his colleague’s success by scoring at the very end of the match at 88 minutes.
- Bayern v Tigres (2021) was a tough battle. The landmark match of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021 was modernity that fans from all nations were eager to watch. The Bavarians and the lesser-known Mexicans of FC Tigres made it to the final of the tournament.
In a tense encounter between the two clubs, only one goal was scored (Kimmich’s shot was disallowed due to offside). Benjamin Pawar brought the German team the win when he planted the ball into the opposing net in the 59th minute.
Latest club news
There is an unspoken list of Bayern’s best players of the 21st century. According to football analysts and fans, the list includes such players as Oliver Kahn (429 caps), Willy Sanyol (184 caps), Jerome Boateng (131 caps), Lucio (144 caps), Philipp Lamm (320 caps), Bastian Schweinsteiger (342 caps), Mark van Bommel (123 caps), Thomas Muller (244 caps) and Michael Ballack (107 caps).
In current club news for 2022, Julian Naggelsmann is coaching the team. There are three goalkeepers in the full squad: Johannes Schenk, Manuel Neuer, and Sven Ullrich. Serge Gnabry and Eric-Maxim Schupo-Moting are responsible for the attack.
When it comes to this season’s best players, football analysts particularly highlight the midfielders Jamal Musial and Josef Kimmich and defender Benjamin Pavard. In 2022 it was revealed that Bayern’s iconic player Robert Lewandowski moved to play for Barcelona.
Interesting facts
Football fans must be aware of the following facts about the club:
Bayern’s red insignia was first worn by the players in 1955. They were the first European football club to be led by an English coach, Thomas Taylor.
The logo, which distinguishes the German team and most closely resembles the modern version, was launched by FC Bayern in 1970. Many stars are ardent supporters of Bayern. For example, boxer Wladimir Klitschko and tennis player Boris Becker make no secret of their love for the club.
Three of the club’s players have won the Ballon d’Or in different years of the club’s existence. They are Gerd Müller in 1970, Franz Beckenbauer in 1972 and 1976, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who managed to win the title two years in a row (1980-1981). Bayern has won the German championship every year since 2013 without losing the title to any German club.