2019 was an eventful year for FC Bayern. The Bavarians clinched the seventh championship title in a row on the last matchday, thanks to an outstanding comeback. Uli Hoeneß, Franck Ribéry, Rafinha and Arjen Robben said goodbye. Lewandowski broke a number of records in 2019, whereas David Alaba deputised for Eddie Murphy. fcbayern.com looks back on the last 12 months .
Arjen Robben, Rafinha and Franck Ribéry bade <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/05/textbook-day-ends-with-fc-bayern-winning-the-title">farewell</a> to the Bayern fans and the Allianz Arena on 18 May, after ten, eight and twelve years at FC Bayern. The highlight of the day was the handover of the championship shield. Ribéry won his ninth German championship title, setting a new record. It was the eight championship title for Robben, whereas Rafinha hoisted the shield for the seventh time.
The trio went on the win the <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/05/bayern-celebrate-happy-end-in-berlin">DFB Cup</a> a week later, saying goodbye after winning the double. Obrigado Rafinha, Merci Franck und Dank U Wel Arjen.
Uli Hoeneß held various positions at FC Bayern for 49 years. The former world-class forward always gave it everything for his club, as player, general manager and president. He stepped down at the Annual General Meeting on 15 November: an emotional day for the club. Franck Ribéry travelled from Florence to Munich to say goodbye to his friend.
The team too came up with a special gesture for Uli Hoeneß' farewell, wearing wigs and retro shirts. Servus!
Robert Lewandowski showed his potential in 2019, not only in the cup final, when he fired Bayern to victory, netting twice. He scored a total of 48 goals, becoming the most prolific non-German scorer in Bundesliga history, advancing to third place in the league's all-time scorer <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/12/lewandowski-third-highest-goalscorer-in-history-of-the-bundesliga">rankings</a>. In the FCB scoring chart, he lies second behind Gerd Müller.
What an evening! FC Bayern downed Tottenham Hotspur 7-2 on 1 October. Serge Gnabry was the Man of the Match, becoming the first player in Champions League history to score <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/12/four-goal-haul-in-the-champions-league---gnabrys-historic-night-at-tottenham">four goals</a> in one half.
A unique comeback! FC Bayern were nine points short of table-toppers Borussia Dortmund in December. FCB crowned a <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/05/2019-review">thrilling finale</a> when they clinched the championship title on the last matchday, the seventh title in a row!
The match was the most crucial milestone on the road to the title: FC Bayern <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/04/bayern-happy-with-big-points-in-the-title-race">thrashed</a> league leaders Borussia Dortmund 5-0 at the Allianz Arena, toppling the Ruhr valley outfit from their perch. David Alaba & Co. were in raptures.
What a debut! Joshua Zirkzee scored his <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/12/joshua-zirkzee-scores-in-bundesliga-debut">first Bundesliga goal</a> 104 seconds after coming on. The 18-year-old had been subbed on in the 90th minute in the match away to Freiburg on 18 December and handed Bayern the lead. Zirkzee pulled off a similar feat on the following Saturday. He came on in the closing stages against Wolfsburg, scoring the crucial opener with his first touch.
David Alaba demonstrated his flexibility out on the pitch again and again in 2019. And he has numerous qualities off the pitch too. A career as <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/07/david-as-bayern-hills-cop">Bayern Hills Cop</a> is not out of range, as he proved on the Audi Summer Tour 2019.
After two matches when the ball just refused to go in, Bayern let rip on 14 December, when they downed Bremen 6-1. <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/12/coutinho-leads-bayern-to-victory">Hat-trick hero</a> Philippe Coutinho and two-goal Robert Lewandowski stood out. A new dream duo?
Great willpower, dedication, never giving up: Javi Martínez demonstrated these qualities in the goalleass draw in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg away to Liverpool, when he went for the one-on-ones, making a proper nuisance of himself for each opponent. His commitment earned him the <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/02/hats-off-to-martinez-performance">nickname Javi 'Maschinez'</a>.
Two 'chefs' met when Bayern visited Houston on the Audi Summer Tour 2019. After the match against Real Madrd, <a href="https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/07/day-5-whats-up-serge">NBA star James Harden</a> visited Serge Gnabry in Bayern's dressing room. Both celebrate their successes with cooking gestures.
Alphonso Davies has been eligible to play for FC Bayern since January 2019. The young Canadian got on a <a href="https://fcbayern.com/fcbayerntv/en/videos/2019/11/video-red-star-preview">roll</a> towards the end of they year. He featured in the starting XI in every match from Matchday 9 onwards and played the full 90 minutes each time. Davies was strong in defense and also charged forward again and again, setting up four goals in all competitions. The hard work during pre-season has paid off.
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