Herbert Hainer opened the 2024 FC Bayern Annual General Meeting on Sunday morning. The president talked about the club, which is much more than "Bavarian, grounded, approachable – a big family" – as the 70-year-old views FC Bayern. A club that is incredibly successful in so many respects on the one hand and that is made so special by its members on the other hand: "You are the stars of the south – no matter where you're from," Hainer addressed the members in emotional words: "Our club, our home, our heart. Nice we're together today!"
The values of solidarity that the FC Bayern family embodies are of special importance in light of the political and social developments in the world: "A club like FC Bayern is more than sport – it's space for coming together!", said Hainer: "FC Bayern is growing, has an effect and inspires, far beyond the pitch."
"Welcome back to the FC Bayern family"
But the Bayern pros are on an upward trend on the pitch too after the end of their run of winning the German championship titles 11 times in a row. "After the series is ahead of the series!", said the president: "Full focus on big goals!" Hainer addressed the team and head coach Vincent Kompany: "Nice you're one of us. We'll support Vincent with regard to our big goal of bringing the championship shield back to Munich."
Hainer was glad about the contract extension with Jan-Christian Dreesen as CEO, but also regards executive vice chairman Michael Diederich as "a top recruitment" and board member for sport Max Everl as someone who "permanently improves the team" along with sporting director Christoph Freund. Hainer addressed Eberl, who joined FC Bayern at the age of five and worked his way through all the youth teams to the pros: "Welcome back to the FC Bayern family!"
The president praised the Women's section and the Basketballers, not only for a very successful year in terms of sport, but also the teams' social commitment. For example, the Women visited a prison: "Our colleagues get asked to check the results on the internet because prisoners want to know whether it helps that their fingers are crossed," he quoted from a letter from the prison governor. The president had a special message for keeper Mala Grohs, who has been diagnosed with a malignant tumour: "Dear Mala, we're all close by your side."
"You've established basketball in Munich"
Hainer welcomed Basketball head coach Gordon Herbert and congratulated the team on the second double since 2018. The enthusiasm regarding the FC Bayern Basketballers is growing because of the successes and the identity created by the athletes, but also because of the overall conditions. FC Bayern have sealed seven victories in seven sold-out matches at the new SAP Garden: "You've established basketball in Munich," Hainer told managing director Marko Pešić and the team.
Herbert Hainer also talked about the successful promotion of young talent at the FC Bayern Campus: "40 percent of the talents here become pros now," said the president: "Almost half of them!" The focus is on talents from the region: more than 60 percent are from Munich and its surroundings. The result of the work can be seen in players like Aleksandar Pavlović: "Players like Aleks, Josip Stanišić or Jamal Musiala, who joined us at the age of 16, create an identity, they're role models. The next generation after Thomas Müller is growing here – and that's the FC Bayern way." He added: "Even more talents made by Bayern!“
"A dimension FC Bayern has never reached"
FC Bayern stands on three pillars, sporting success, economic stability and social commitment, stressed Hainer. "The turnover was €690 million two years ago. Now we haven't only set another record – we've reached a dimension even FC Bayern has never reached before. Dear members, we're at a turnover of €1.017 billion this year!"
The FC Bayern president also announced a new record with regard to membership. A total of 382,000 people are members of the world's biggest sports club – "That's the population of Florence," said Hainer: "We could form no fewer than 35,000 football teams with you." The new goal is the 400,000-member mark – as a birthday present for the club's 125th anniversary next year, according to Hainer.
The members' concerns are always decisive for the club "because we develop together with you." 22 member events in the last 12 months speak for themselves, the TEENS CLUB addresses the concerns of young people and the dialogue with people over 65 has been intensified. Social responsibility continues to be one of FC Bayern's values, as the "Red against Racism" initiative shows, according to Hainer: FC Bayern has partnerships with schools, is involved in the city birthday and has initiated a dialogue for democracy at city hall: "FC Bayern is an active and formative part of society," said the FC Bayern president. Which is why it is necessary to say at certain moments: "Up to here and no further! What we do and don't do now determines our future." Antisemitism, racism, hate and agitation have no place at FC Bayern, stressed Herbert Hainer: "That's why we repeat it today, more emphatically than ever, telling all anti-democratic, divisive forced: Not today, not tomorrow – and not with us, not with FC Bayern!"
The FC Bayern Museum helps with regard to historical awareness: 500,000 people have seen the exhibitions so far. "We're among the top five museums in Munich and number one in football in Germany," said Hainer.
The president thanked his colleagues from the committee, Prof Dr Dieter Mayer and Walter Mennekes, as well as the board with Jan-Christian Dreesen, Michael Diederich and Max Eberl. "And a thank you to Andreas Jung, who said goodbye after 28 successful years as an FC Bayern official." Hainer also thanked the supervisory board, in particular Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, "two absolute world-class players as advisers." He concluded by addressing the members: "Let's continue on our FC Bayern way!", said Hainer: "Let the luck keep piling on!"
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