© Graphic: FC Bayern
As it celebrates its 125th birthday, FC Bayern has reached its next record-breaking milestone. At the German record champions' official anniversary festivities at the Paulaner Nockherberg, in front of around 650 invited guests from the worlds of sport, politics and society, president Herbert Hainer announced that the club's membership had risen to 400,000. It's something no other sports club in the world has ever achieved.
"We're experiencing an unprecedented increase in membership," said Hainer at the 125th anniversary celebrations after CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen had opened the event. "FC Bayern stands for sporting success, financial common sense and social commitment. In addition, we've increasingly intensified the dialogue with our members and fans in recent years. The club is approachable, which resonates with people. We can all be proud of FC Bayern and its members.
At the AGM at the beginning of December, FC Bayern had already announced that the club had reached 382,000 members. In 1979, the club had 6,800 members, in 2004 it broke through the 100,000 mark, in 2013 it reached the 200,000 mark and ten years later it welcomed its 300,000th member.
Ahead of the home game against VfL Bochum at the Allianz Arena on 8 March (kick-off 15:30 CET), the member with the number 400,000 will be officially honoured on the pitch by the executive committee led by Herbert Hainer, along with senior vice-president Professor Dr Dieter Mayer and deputy vice-president Walter Mennekes, and will be presented with a special anniversary jersey and the personalised scarf that everyone receives as a gift when they join the club.
The honour is embedded in FC Bayern's Day of Honour and members tribute day, on which the German record champions traditionally thank their long-standing members every year. At the match against Bochum, the executive committee will honour those who have been loyal to the club for 50, 60 and 70 years this year, as well as all those who celebrated 35 years of membership in 2024. On Saturday, 1,111 members will be honoured for 35 years of loyalty to the club, 65 for 50 years, 77 for 60 years and three for 70 years.
Further information on membership of FC Bayern is available HERE