Dr Fritz Scherer, our former president and current honorary vice-president, turns 85 on 16 February. To mark the occasion, he gave an interview with members’ magazine ‘51’.
Interview with Fritz Scherer
Mr Scherer, you were president when Bayern became record champions in 1987. What were the most formative moments for you during your time?
“When Uli Hoeneß and I started in 1979, we had a turnover of DM12 million. Now it's around €1 billion. I'll never forget the first championship when I was president and the story of how the Allianz Arena was built, during which I was vice-president under Franz Beckenbauer. Overall, Beckenbauer is the greatest figure the club has ever had. In the ‘70s, Bayern was spoilt by success, then the club began to stumble. With a new strategic direction, it began to develop into a club that was recognised worldwide in the long term. For me, Bayern is the best and best managed club in the world. ‘Mia san mia’ is still a reality and an expression of a family that stands together. It symbolises unity and strength and reflects the values and mentality of the club.”
Did you already have the feeling back then that Bayern could become one of the biggest clubs in the world?
“Bayern grew continuously from the ‘90s onwards. There was already a certain expectation and confidence that the club would achieve the status of one of the biggest in the world. Investing millions of Euros in players would have been unthinkable in the past. Today, Bayern can afford to compete for the world's top players because there is enough money in perspective. In my day, the transfer of Sören Lerby was a quantum leap, and we're talking about DM2 million here. The fans can be immensely proud of how everything has developed.”
What were the decisive factors and what does the future hold?
“Behind everything is hard work, determination and the courage to make strategic decisions. The most important factors that contributed to the club's success were continuity in leadership, strong teams and a professional infrastructure that was constantly invested in. On its 125th anniversary, I can only wish Bayern that it never strays from its path. It is an enormous challenge to stand up to the top international clubs. But ‘Mia san mia’ has been established over the decades, and as long as this attitude is filled with life, Bayern will continue to inspire its fans.”
This interview appeared in members’ magazine ‘51’
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