On the day after the vital 3-2 away win at FC Augsburg, the FC Bayern players and management were back on the road for a very special tradition. For the first time since 2019, the popular fan club visits could take place again on Sunday. With the original pre-Christmas event being postponed due to heavy snowfall in Bavaria on the first weekend of December, the German record champions caught up with the fans at their New Year’s receptions. Harry Kane, Thomas Müller and Co provided the FCB supporters with countless happy moments and an unforgettable afternoon.
Bayern out and about in three countries
The Bavarians travelled across Germany and even beyond the country’s borders. President Herbert Hainer was a guest among the “Gulp” Bayern supporters in Schweinfurt, who celebrated their 40-year anniversary last season. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen travelled to the “Red Stars Attenhausen“ in Allgäu, while sporting director Christop Freund went home to Austria to the “Antiesental” fan club in Antiesenhofen. Leon Goretzka visited the “Rot-Weiße Augustiner 49” club in Lengerich, not far from his Westphalian roots. Frans Krätzig went as far as South Tyrol to the “Rot-Weiße Adler Lana” fan club.
Warm welcome
Die Fans bereiteten den Bayern einen tollen Empfang.
All the players and officials experienced the warmest of welcomes. Kane, for example, was greeted in Kirchweidach by a brass band and big applause from the 400 fan club members in attendance. In a Bavarian triathlon of beer mug pushing, nailing and a quiz on Bavarian terms, the top goalscorer proved that he’s assimilated well after six months in Munich – on and off the field.
“Fans make Bayern a special club”
President Herbert Hainer: “An event like today is what FC Bayern is all about."
The Bavarians answered questions from young and old. “An event like today is what FC Bayern is all about,” emphasised president Hainer. “It sets us apart from other clubs. Fan club visits are part of FC Bayern.” CEO Dreesen agreed: “This is part of our DNA. I’m very happy that we were able to do it today. This also differentiates us from other clubs.” Coach Thomas Tuchel ("Red Stars Heidenheim '78 e.V." fan club), for whom it was the first fan club visit, was enthused: "It was great fun, everything was super organised. We also had a good basis with two recent wins, so the general mood was good." Jamal Musiala ("La Bestia Negra 2008" fan club in Wolfegg) also enjoyed the time with the supporters: "It's always fun with the fans. I feel very comfortable at Bayern. The love of football makes life easy for me." Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting ("Floß e.V." fan club in the Upper Palatinate) emphasised how important the supporters are for the club: "It's an honour for me to be here. The fans make FC Bayern what it is and make it a very special club."
Müller on the tuba, table football and lots of autographs
Thomas Müller spontaneously grabbed a tuba and played with the band.
In addition to the Q&A sessions, the fan clubs had of course also prepared numerous special activities – and the players and management from their favourite club joined in with great enthusiasm. Müller ("Nabburg/Oberpfalz" fan club), for example, grabbed a tuba and played music with the band, while Manuel Neuer ("Bayernfreunde Tegernseer Tal e.V." fan club) had a career memory game and a Bavarian Olympics waiting for him. Goretzka had a go at table football, Raphaël Guerreiro ("Bayernfreaks Hohentengen" fan club) thrilled the fans with keepy-uppy together with two children and Musiala took part in a goal celebration quiz with the U11 team from local club SV Wolfegg.
A first: video call with international fan clubs
Matthijs de Ligt delighted the international fan clubs with video calls.
There was also a first for the fan club visits as a video call with international fan clubs took place for the first time as part of the popular tradition. Defender Matthijs de Ligt generated great excitement during three calls with around 150 fans from the USA, Mexico, Colombia, China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Hong Kong (China), Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and India.
A complete success
Whether at the "Die 13 Höslwanger e.V." fan club, where Leroy Sané paid a visit, or at Serge Gnabry's appearance at "Mia San Mia Finsing" in Offenberg: the Bavarians tirelessly handed out autographs, posed for photos, had gifts with them and were also given plenty of presents themselves. After the three-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic and the 2022 winter World Cup, the fan club visits were once again an unforgettable event for all supporters of the record champions.
FC Bayern closed the gap on leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen with the win at FC Augsburg on Saturday:
