From Munich minnows to European giants – Bayern Munich celebrate 125th anniversary

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125 years of excellence 

©TM/IMAGO

On 27 February 1900, a group of football enthusiasts led by Franz John decided to break away from their local gymnastics club and form their own football team. They probably had no idea they were laying the foundation for one of the most successful clubs in football history. Fast forward 125 years, and Bayern Munich is not just Germany’s most decorated club but a true giant of the global game. 

It wasn’t always smooth sailing, though. Despite winning their first national title in 1932, Bayern weren’t included in the inaugural Bundesliga season in 1963. They had to fight their way up and only won promotion to the top-tier of German football in 1965. In comparison to many of Europe’s biggest and most celebrated clubs, that wasn’t long ago at all. But once they got to the top, they never looked back. The late 1960s saw the rise of the club’s undoubted golden generation— Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Sepp Maier—players who would define not just Bayern but German football as a whole. The 1970s belonged to Bayern. Under Udo Lattek, they won three straight European Cups from 1974 to 1976, beating Atlético Madrid, Leeds United and then Saint-Étienne in successive seasons and cementing their place among the continent’s elite. Müller’s goalscoring instincts, Beckenbauer’s elegance, and Maier’s shot-stopping made them unstoppable.  

Curiously, domestic dominance only followed once Bayern had first conquered Europe. Although the club had won four league titles in the 70s, from the 79/80 season onwards the Munich giants won seven of the next 11 Bundesliga championships, thanks to stars like Paul Breitner and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Which stood in stark contrast to their form in Europe, where they lost in European Cup finals to Aston Villa in 1982 and Porto in 1987. Then came the rollercoaster of the 1990s. Domestically, Bayern were still top dogs, but on the European stage, they suffered one of the most painful defeats in football history. The 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona should have been theirs—1-0 up against Manchester United deep into stoppage time. Then, two quickfire goals turned joy into despair. That hurt. But Bayern never stayed down for long. Just two years later, redemption arrived when they beat Valencia on penalties to claim their fourth European crown.   

In the modern era, Bayern have gone from strength to strength to exert a masterclass of European football in how to become the perfect super club. Under legendary managers like Ottmar Hitzfeld, Louis Van Gaal, Jupp Heynckes, and Pep Guardiola, the club evolved into a relentless winning machine. With unrivalled domestic success, Bayern won not one but two historical trebles – the first coming in 2013 under Heynckes then the second in 2020 under Hansi Flick – which saw the Munich giants win the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League on both occasions.

Today, Bayern Munich are a global powerhouse. They don’t just win, they dominate. With record-breaking Bundesliga titles, a squad packed with world-class talent, and an ever-growing fanbase, they’re showing no signs of slowing down. From a small Munich breakaway club to the kings of European football, Bayern’s journey has been nothing short of legendary. And if history tells us anything, there’s plenty more to come.