Bayern MunichFC Bayern Munich is a symbol of dominance, but also a club with an exceptionally complex identity. It is best captured by the motto "Mia san Mia" – "We are who we are." This is not just a marketing slogan, but an expression of pride, self-confidence, and a winning mentality that demands rising up after every defeat.
The club was founded on 27 February 1900 in Munich, when a group of footballers broke away from the gymnastics association MTV 1879 München after its leadership refused to let the football division join the German Football Association. The newly formed club initially wore white and blue, only switching to the red and white it still wears today in 1906, after forming ties with Münchner Sport Club.
The darkest chapter in Bayern's history occurred during the era of the Third Reich. In 1932 Bayern won its first German championship under president Kurt Landauer and coach Richard "Dombi" Kohn, both of Jewish descent. After Hitler came to power, Landauer was forced to resign in 1933, and in November 1938, the day after Kristallnacht, he was sent to the Dachau concentration camp. His World War I military service helped secure his release after 33 days, and in 1939 he emigrated to Switzerland, where he survived the war.
After the war, Landauer returned to Munich and again became club president in 1947, helping to rebuild Bayern. Its true sporting powerhouse status came in the 1970s, when Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Sepp Maier led Bayern to three consecutive European Cup triumphs, in 1974, 1975, and 1976 – a feat still rarely matched in the competition's history.
Today, Bayern remains one of the most successful clubs in the world. In the 21st century, they have achieved the treble twice – in 2013 and 2020 – and won 11 consecutive German championships between 2013 and 2023, the longest such run in any of Europe's top five leagues.
