Herbert Hainer's rallying cry: Everyone is a role model

Once again, FC Bayern was well represented at the City of Munich Sports Honours. Together with president Herbert Hainer, recipients Sven Ulreich, representing the men's senior footballers, the FCB Women's Glodis Viggosdottir, Sydney Lohmann and Sarah Zadrazil alongside their coach Alexander Straus, basketball players Andreas Obst, Niels Giffey and Ivan Kharchenkov were all smiles on stage. FCB table tennis player Tom Schweiger, who couldn’t be there on the evening was also recognised, as well as FCB's four U17 World Cup winners Max Schmitt, Maximilian Hennig, Robert Ramsak and Kurt Rüger. The quartet were also not present due to being called up for the Germany U-19s.

FC Bayern always aims to be a role model - on and off the pitch, said Hainer at the award ceremony hosted by Mayor Verena Dietl in the Munich Town Hall in front of around 300 invited guests from the world of sport in Munich. The president singled out the U17 talents in particular: the World Cup victory was a resounding success with four FC Bayern players - more than any other club. Shortly before that, the DFB youngsters had also won the European Championship, "there's more to come", concluded Hainer with one eye on the future. "That speaks in favour of the work at the FC Bayern Campus - we want talents who absorb the Mia san Mia spirit early on, who live it and carry it onto the pitch: with a broad chest, full of confidence, FC Bayern-like. Jamal Musiala has led the way, followed now by Aleks Pavlovic - these are players made in Munich who inspire us all; that's what the fans want."

The unique Franz Beckenbauer, who passed away in January, was also remembered at the ceremony, and was described by Hainer as a "role model across all generations: He was always ready to listen to everyone, he made time for everyone, no matter how many people pulled at him - and I think that is what will remain forever, alongside his sporting successes: That you have to make time for each other, that no appointment in the world is more important than a nice word for the person standing next to you. That is his legacy, for young and old.“

When asked about the club's commitment during the International Weeks against Racism taking place at the moment, Hainer explained that it's important to FC Bayern to increase people's awareness in the long term with its "Red against Racism" initiative. Just recently, he was invited by Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter to the Dialogue for Democracy discussion here in the town hall on behalf of the initiative: "When I look at sport or our whole lives: Diversity enriches, and we should all emphasise this together again and again. I can see many young people, sportsmen and sportswomen here in this very room, and I can only say that they are all role models." We can achieve a lot together.

Ulreich accepted the award for winning the 2023 Bundesliga title, while the women were also honoured for winning the Meisterschale. The FC Bayern basketball players had won the trophy the previous year, and Obst and Giffey, like Isaac Bonga, who was excused on the evening, were also important pillars of the German national team's World Cup coup. Kharchenkov had celebrated coming 3rd at the U18 European Championship, while Tom Schweiger won the German mixed doubles championship in table tennis.