Just over one year ago, a new chapter in the 120 plus-year history of FC Bayern began. The first esports team in the history of the club was formed on 9 December 2019 and would bring immediate success on the virtual turf. For this purpose, FCB signed four real giants from the eFootball PES world: the Spanish trio of Alex Alguacil, José Sánchez and Miguel Mestre, together with Austrian coach Matthias Luttenberger.
Renowned reception
At their first joint meeting at Säbener Strasse, the quartet were welcomed by none other than Giovane Élber. The club legend accompanied the esports team throughout the day and showed them around the facilities. "You could tell they were a bit excited, but that's normal when you join a club like FC Bayern," recalls the FC Bayern Ambassador. "I soon realised that all four of them knew what they were talking about and that they had an unconditional will to win, which every player at FC Bayern needs – that was clearly felt by all of them."
First year, first title
Élber's gut feeling was right: the team not only had the will to win, but also put it into action. After the eFootball.Pro League was abandoned by KONAMI due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Bayern esportsmen were able to win the eFootball.pro Cup, launched at short notice and held online. "We could not have finished last season any better," Alguacial says. Sánchez agrees: "It was incredible, but of course it would have been nice to celebrate the title on the big stage with everyone there."
The next target in their sights
From signing a contract to winning the title to handing over the cup to the museum – there were many great moments over the past 12 months. How will the team celebrate this anniversary? "A hard training session," said all four, because Matchday 1 of the eFootball.Pro League 2020/21 is set to begin on Saturday. "We play Juventus, a direct title rival," Luttenberger observes, while Mestre is also pumped for for the start of proceedings: "I think the best way to celebrate today's anniversary would be to win at the weekend."
A few days ago the first esports trophy won by FC Bayern arrived at the Museum in the Allianz Arena. You can find all information about the latest item here: