Bayern Munich Timeline

(1900 - Present)

FC Bayern München, founded in 1900 in Munich, Germany, is the country's most successful football club. Known for its dominance in the Bundesliga and numerous UEFA Champions League victories, Bayern has become one of the world's most valuable and decorated sports institutions. More Less

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Founding and Early Years

FC Bayern Munich founded in Munich

Feb 27, 1900

FC Bayern Munich was founded on February 27, 1900, by eleven football players led by Franz John who left a local gymnastics club to form their own club. The club grew rapidly and would eventually become Germany's most successful football team.

Image source: FC Bayern Munich

First Bavarian championship won

1910

Bayern won its first regional title, the Bavarian championship, in 1910 under captain Max 'Gaubl' Gablonsky. The early success established the club as a force in southern German football.

First German championship victory

Jun 18, 1932

Bayern defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in Nuremberg to win its first German championship. Coach Richard Dombi's attacking side featured stars like Oskar Rohr, marking the club's arrival at the top of German football.

Image source: 1932 German football championship

Bayern survives post-war rebuilding years

1945 - 1955

After World War II destroyed much of Munich, Bayern played mostly in lower regional leagues and even suffered relegation to the second tier in the mid-1950s, a humbling period before its later rise.

First DFB-Pokal triumph

Dec 29, 1956

Bayern won its first German cup, defeating Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-0 in the 1957 DFB-Pokal final thanks to a goal from Ludwig Landerer, giving the club its first national trophy since 1932.

Image source: 1957 DFB-Pokal final

Promotion to Bundesliga for inaugural season

1965

Bayern earned promotion to the newly formed Bundesliga in 1965 with a young squad including Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Sepp Maier, laying the foundation for decades of dominance.

Image source: 1965–66 Bundesliga

Legendary Figures

Gerd Müller sets legendary goal-scoring records

1964 - 1979

'Der Bomber' Gerd Müller scored 365 goals in the Bundesliga and 535 in all competitions for Bayern between 1964 and 1979, including 40 league goals in 1971-72, a record that stood for nearly half a century.

Image source: Gerd Müller

Franz Beckenbauer named European Footballer of the Year twice more

1976

'Der Kaiser' Beckenbauer, who revolutionized the sweeper role, won the Ballon d'Or again in 1976 after previous wins in 1966 and 1968, capping an era in which he defined elegant, dominant defending.

Image source: Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer era ends with departure

1977

Franz Beckenbauer left Bayern in 1977 for the New York Cosmos, ending the golden era of the 1970s. His departure marked a transition period as other greats like Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller also wound down their careers.

Oliver Kahn wins Golden Ball at 2002 World Cup

Jun 30, 2002

Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn became the first goalkeeper to win the World Cup Golden Ball, carrying Germany to the final. His commanding presence made him a Bayern icon across a 14-year first-team career.

Image source: Oliver Kahn

Robert Lewandowski joins Bayern

Jul 1, 2014

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski arrived on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund and became one of Bayern's greatest-ever players, scoring prolifically including nine goals across two famous 5-1 and 5-0 games against Wolfsburg and Arsenal in quick succession.

Image source: Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski scores five goals in nine minutes

Sep 22, 2015

Coming on as a substitute against Wolfsburg with Bayern trailing 0-1, Robert Lewandowski scored five goals in nine minutes, setting multiple world records and producing one of football's most remarkable individual performances.

Image source: Borussia Mönchengladbach

European Glory

First European trophy: Cup Winners' Cup

May 31, 1967

Bayern beat Scottish side Rangers 1-0 after extra time in Nuremberg to win the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup, the club's first continental honor, sealed by a goal from Franz Roth.

Bayern wins three consecutive European Cups

May 28, 1974 - May 26, 1976

Led by Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller, Bayern became only the third club to win three consecutive European Cups, triumphing in 1974 against Atlético Madrid, in 1975 against Leeds United, and in 1976 against Saint-Étienne.

Image source: FC Bayern Munich in international football

Intercontinental Cup victory over Cruzeiro

Nov 23, 1976 - Dec 21, 1976

Bayern defeated Brazil's Cruzeiro over two legs to claim the Intercontinental Cup, cementing its status as the world's premier club side of the mid-1970s.

First UEFA Cup triumph

1996

Coached by Franz Beckenbauer and captained by Matthias Sammer, Bayern defeated Bordeaux 5-1 on aggregate to win the 1996 UEFA Cup, adding another continental trophy to its collection.

Heartbreaking Champions League final loss to Manchester United

May 26, 1999

Leading 1-0 deep into stoppage time in Barcelona, Bayern conceded two injury-time goals to Manchester United and lost 2-1 in one of the most dramatic finals ever, a devastating blow for the Bavarians.

Image source: 1999 UEFA Champions League final

Champions League title won against Valencia

May 23, 2001

Bayern defeated Valencia 5-4 on penalties in Milan after a 1-1 draw, winning its fourth European Cup and avenging the pain of 1999. Oliver Kahn saved three penalties in one of his finest performances.

Image source: 2001 UEFA Champions League final

Champions League final loss to Inter Milan

May 22, 2010

Louis van Gaal's young Bayern side reached the Champions League final in Madrid but lost 2-0 to José Mourinho's Internazionale, missing out on a historic treble despite winning the domestic double.

Image source: 2010 UEFA Champions League final

Historic treble won under Jupp Heynckes

May 25, 2013 - Jun 1, 2013

Bayern completed Germany's first-ever treble, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Champions League final at Wembley after winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, capping a season of unprecedented success.

Image source: 2013 UEFA Champions League final

Domestic Dominance

First Bundesliga title won

1969

Under coach Branko Zebec, Bayern won its first Bundesliga championship in 1969, also completing the league-and-cup double that season and beginning an era of sustained domestic supremacy.

Sixth consecutive Bundesliga title secured

Apr 7, 2018

Bayern clinched its sixth straight Bundesliga championship, matching Juventus's record for consecutive titles in Europe's top five leagues, underscoring an era of unmatched domestic control.

Image source: 2017–18 Bundesliga

Seventh consecutive league title under Niko Kovač

May 4, 2019

Despite a rocky start to the season under Niko Kovač, Bayern rallied in the spring to win the 2019 Bundesliga title and added the DFB-Pokal, completing another domestic double.

Modern Era

Allianz Arena opens in Munich

Aug 31, 2005

The futuristic Allianz Arena, famous for its illuminated exterior that glows red on Bayern matchdays, opened as the club's new home, replacing the Olympiastadion and becoming an emblem of modern Munich.

Image source: Allianz Arena

Jürgen Klinsmann's turbulent coaching stint

Jul 1, 2008 - Apr 27, 2009

Former Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann took over Bayern but was sacked with five matches remaining in 2009 after inconsistent results and friction within the club, despite some innovative training methods.

Image source: Jürgen Klinsmann

Record transfer signing Javi Martínez arrives

Sep 2, 2012

Bayern signed Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martínez for around €40 million, then a Bundesliga record fee, signaling the club's growing financial power ahead of the triumphant 2012-13 season.

Image source: Javi Martínez

Pep Guardiola appointed head coach

Jul 1, 2013 - Jun 30, 2016

World-renowned coach Pep Guardiola joined Bayern and won three consecutive Bundesliga titles while implementing possession-based tactics, though the coveted Champions League title remained elusive during his tenure.

Image source: Pep Guardiola

Carlo Ancelotti leads fourth straight Bundesliga title

Jul 1, 2016 - Sep 28, 2017

Carlo Ancelotti guided Bayern to the 2016-17 Bundesliga crown, extending the club's record streak of consecutive titles, before being dismissed in September 2017 following a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Image source: Carlo Ancelotti

Hansi Flick appointed interim head coach

Nov 3, 2019

Hansi Flick replaced Niko Kovač as interim coach and transformed Bayern's fortunes with an aggressive pressing style, going on an extraordinary unbeaten run that revived hopes of major silverware.

Image source: Hansi Flick

Key Facts

Bayern Munich was founded on 27 February 1900 by eleven football players led by Franz John.
The club has won a record number of Bundesliga titles, dominating German football since the league's creation in 1963.
Bayern won three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976 with legends like Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller.
In 2020, Bayern completed a historic sextuple, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, German Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
The club plays its home matches at the Allianz Arena in Munich, famous for its color-changing illuminated exterior.

Source

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