Bayern's most legendary knockout games from 1961 to 1970

The 1960s saw a DFB Cup derby, the first continental trophy and also first title defence in FCB’s history. fcbayern.com looks back at the club’s most legendary knockout matches from 1961 to 1970.

16.10.1962: Basel XI – Bayern

While Bayern would go on to experience some great European nights in the decades to come, their debut on the continental stage in October 1962 was a rather smaller affair. In the first round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, seen as the predecessor to the UEFA Cup, FCB took on a Basel city XI in front of 6,000 spectators at St. Jakobs Park. It was a debut to remember as two goals from Dieter ‘Mucki’ Brenninger and one late on from Jakob Drescher secured a 3-0 win, meaning the Swiss team opted not to contest the second leg back in Munich. Under coach Helmut Schneider, Bayern went on to reach the quarter-finals against Dinamo Zagreb in their maiden campaign.

02.01.1966: Bayern – Borussia Dortmund

It was nine years after winning the 1957 DFB Cup final against Fortuna Düsseldorf that Bayern were finally able to contest the domestic cup again. Having just been promoted to the Bundesliga, FCB were handed the tough draw of holders Borussia Dortmund in the first qualifying round of 1965/66. Around 30,000 people packed into the Grünwalder Stadion to bring in the new year with a hard-fought match at a time when there was no winter break. Bayern got to grips with the difficult conditions better and took the lead with less than a minute played through Rainer Ohlhauser before Gerd Müller doubled the advantage shortly before half-time. It was Der Bomber’s debut in the competition, in which he would go on to score 78 times and become the unassailable all-time top scorer.

04.06.1966: Duisburg – Bayern

Bayern’s progress to the 1966 DFB Cup final was still regarded as a surprise back then. After seeing off holders Dortmund, the Bundesliga newcomers then beat three further notable top-tier sides in Eintracht Braunschweig, Köln and Nürnberg. Even in the final, the experienced Duisburg were seen as favourites against Bayern’s young team and they dominated the early proceedings, going in front after 28 minutes through Rüdiger Mielke. However, the joy was short lived as Ohlhauser equalised just three minutes later. After the break, Zlakto Cajkovski’s side claimed the lead themselves thanks to Brenninger. Yet the game remained open and Hartmut Heidemann was able to level things up again after a debatable penalty was awarded by referee Gerhard Schulenberg. He would point to the spot again just five minutes later, this time at the other end, but again for a questionable foul. That was of no concern to Brenninger, who put Bayern 3-2 ahead before a young Franz Beckenbauer set off on a superb solo run to make it 4-2 and wrap up the club’s second DFB Cup title.

08.03.1967: Bayern – Rapid Vienna

Bayern were up against it in the 1967 European Cup quarter-final against Rapid Vienna after losing the first leg 1-0 in Austria. Even in the return game, the visitors proved they were no pushovers. Both sides created chances but none were taken in the first 45 minutes. In the 59th minute, Ohlhauser was perfectly placed to take advantage of a mistake by Rapid defender Johnny Bjerregaard to make it 1-0. Things then turned hectic when FCB’s Dieter Koulmann was taken down by Rudolf Flögel. Among the protests, Vienna’s August Starek poked the referee, who in turn wanted to send the player off. Yet there was no sign of the midfielder. Instead, it was Walter Seitl sent for an early shower after a long stoppage. From that point on, Bayern dominated but were forced into extra-time. In the 107th minute, Ohlhauser again made his mark by squaring the ball for Müller in the centre to make it 2-0 and leave 40,000 inside the Grünwalder Stadion celebrating progress to the semi-finals.

06.05.1967: Bayern – TSV 1860 Munich

It was red against blue, the holders against the defending Bundesliga champions as Bayern took on 1860 in a Munich derby in the semi-final of the 1966/67 DFB Cup. A fixture that needed no extra build-up had gotten even bigger, but FCB were dealt a major blow with Gerd Müller ruled out of the game. Not an inch was given by either side in front of 42,000 at the Grünwalder and it remained goalless at the break. But three goals in the space of 12 minutes just after the hour mark then settled the tie. Müller’s replacement Ohlhauser got two either side of Peter Kupferschmidt’s strike. 1860 would get a consolation but it wasn’t enough to prevent Bayern reaching a second straight final.

31.05.1967: Bayern – Rangers

On 31 May 1967, Bayern finally announced their arrival on the European stage as they contested their first continental final, taking on Scotland’s Rangers for the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Both sides battled hard in Nuremberg and it wasn’t until the 108th minute that 70,000 spectators witnessed a goal. Midfielder Franz ‘Bulle’ Roth beat Rangers goalkeeper Norrie Martin with a chip to secure a 1-0 win in extra-time. It was no surprise the hero wanted the ball as a souvenir after the game. Unfortunately, Italian referee Concetto Lo Bello had already taken it back into the changing rooms, but Roth went to find him and begged. “Please, that’s my most important goal. I’ve just started at Bayern, my first year, I’d just love to have the ball,” explained Roth, who had joined from third-tier SpVgg Kaufbeuren in the summer. It worked, and fans can now marvel at that historic ball in the FC Bayern Museum.

10.06.1967: Bayern – Hamburg

The 1967 DFB Cup final in Stuttgart proved to be a one-sided affair. Fit again, Müller put Bayern ahead inside 22 minutes. Bar a header in the opening stages from legendary striker Uwe Seeler, HSV offered little in return, which was in large part down to the defensive shadowing by Werner Olk. It meant FCB’s lead was rarely in danger and they could extend it later through Ohlhauser (72’) and Müller (76’). When the holders were awarded a late penalty, coach Cajkovski told goalkeeper Sepp Maier to take it, but Brenninger didn’t allow that and converted himself to round off the 4-0 win. Bayern had defended their cup, but president Wilhelm Neudecker was already thinking ahead to the next season, enquiring with the DFB immediately after the game whether the Munich club could keep the trophy if they won it again the next year. Neudecker’s rejection was the only defeat on the day.

14.06.1969: Bayern – Schalke

After beating fellow three-time DFB Cup winners Nürnberg 2-0 in the semi-final, Bayern were a step away from becoming the outright record holders when they faced Schalke in the final. It all went to plan as Müller made it 1-0 after a scramble in the box with 13 minutes placed. Manfred Pohlschmidt would equalise only moments later with a strike from 25 yards, but Müller bagged his brace after 35 minutes to give Bayern their fourth DFB Cup title.

The game is perhaps most famous, however, for one moment. After Beckenbauer had tugged on Reinhard Stan Libuda’s shorts to stop him as a last resort, part of the 64,000 crowd inside Frankfurt’s Waldstadion began to whistle him at every touch. Bayern’s sweeper eventually had enough of that and at one point began to do keepy-uppies provocatively in front of the Schalke end. His opponents allowed him to do so and the whistles became quieter afterwards. The press would have a field day and after the game said that Beckenbauer had triumphed over the man known as ‘King Libuda’. From that point on, Franz was seen as a step above and the Kaiser was crowned. While the exact origin of this name is no longer clear, it’s believed that this game was the beginning of the legendary nickname.

Click here for more of Bayern’s most legendary knockout games in the 70s: