It's become as much of a Christmas tradition as giving presents for FC Bayern: players, coaches and management from the German record champions paying a visit to their numerous fan clubs and warming the hearts of their supporters. So it was again this year as the Bayern squad headed off on their travels on the first weekend of Advent.
Bayern visit three different countries
The group travelled across Germany and beyond on Sunday. Joshua Kimmich visited the 'Lipsia United' fan club in his former adopted home of Leipzig, while chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge headed to Antiesenhofen in Austria to see the 'Antiesental' Bayern supporters. Youngsters Lukas Mai and Fiete Arp were also in Austria, with the 'Dachverband Südtirol' fan club in South Tyrol.
All the players were given a warm welcome and the reception from the supporters also helped the squad to get over yesterday's unlucky 2-1 defeat. "The fans also watched the game and know how much effort we put in, so none of them were angry at us," explained Manuel Neuer after the final whistle on Saturday evening. The Bayern captain was the guest at the 'Gaubazis' in Herrenberg-Kuppingen, near Böblingen.
Darts, table football and brass band – something for everyone
In his first fan club visit as coach, Hansi Flick made his way to the 'Bayern Bazis Romantische Straße' in Feuchtwangen, where he took questions from fans young and old. Philippe Coutinho got to play table football at the 'Kasing' fan club in Kösching, while Serge Gnabry ('Schwanenkirchen 04 & POPPENBERGA BUAM' fan club) and Leon Goretzka ('Holzland' fan club') had the chance to prove their accuracy at darts, among other things.
And while Thomas Müller was welcomed in true style in traditional custome by the 'Red Kinis 99', David Alaba ('Höchstädter Schlosspanther e.V.' fan club) and Kingsley Coman ('Hainsacker e.V.' in Lappersdorf') tried their hand at American football throwing and conducting a brass band respectively.
Whether it was at 'die Preußen' fan club in Ostbevern, where new club president Herbert Hainer called in, or at Robert Lewandowski's appearance among the 'Obing '84 e.V.' supporters, the Bayern representatives tirelessly handed out autographs, photos and presents, and also received plenty of gifts themselves. Once again this year, the fan club visits were an unforgettable experience for all supporters of the record champions.