It was one of the greatest successes in the club history of FC Bayern. Fifty years ago, in May 1974, the Munich men lifted the European Cup trophy for the first time. Our documentary "Three Days, Two Games, One Historic Success" looks back at the unforgettable events surrounding the final against Atlético Madrid as Uli Hoeneß, Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner and Georg "Katsche" Schwarzenbeck recount their experiences.
Via Åtvidaberg, Dresden, Sofia and Budapest to Brussels
The roughly 30-minute film describes Bayern's route to the final – via Åtvidaberg, Dresden, Sofia and Budapest, then coach Udo Lattek's team made it to the final in Brussels. Bayern, who sealed the German championship the weekend before, went into the match against Atlético as slight favourites. However, the Spaniards proved to be extremely tough opponents and after a goalless 90 minutes it went to extra time. Then Luis Aragonés put Atlético in front with a free kick in the 114th minute. FCB looked to be heading for defeat, but it turned out very differently...
"It wasn't the end, there was still Katsche..." says Maier, with whom we visited the final venue, the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, as part of the documentary. Schwarzenbeck emphasises the team's mentality: "We could have given up but we didn't – that's how it is at FC Bayern!"
The defender stepped up in the 119th minute and went for goal from 20 metres. The ball landed in the bottom left corner of the net, forcing a replay. This took place just two days later, on Friday 17 May, in the same place. Hoeneß recalls the period between the two games in our documentary: "The team really came together then. It was like a fountain of youth."
Hoeneß: The greatest joy
Bayern produced a near perfect performance in the replay and deservedly won 4-0 thanks to two braces from Hoeneß and Gerd Müller, claiming the 'Ol' Big Ears' for the first time in the club's history. "Even though we became German champions that year and also won the World Cup with the national team, I have to say that winning the European Cup gave me the greatest joy I've ever experienced in one game and in football," says the current honorary president.
The celebrations were huge and went on until the next morning, until we left for Mönchengladbach.
Paul Breitner
The title win was celebrated appropriately. "The celebrations were huge and went on until the next morning, until we left for Mönchengladbach," describes Breitner. Bayern's next match was on the very next day after the great triumph, as they had to travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach on the final matchday of the Bundesliga season. From a European party in Brussels to the Lower Rhine. "It was certainly the most fun bus journey I've ever been on with a team," says Breitner. "We laughed and opened another beer." Feeling the effects of the celebrations, Bayern lost 5-0 to Gladbach – rarely has a defeat mattered as little as it did on that day.
Members magazine ‘51’ has taken a look back at four unforgettable games and forgotten moments off the pitch in May 1974:
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