Famous names congratulate Bayern on 125 years

On 27 February 1990, 17 brave men gathered at Munich’s Café Gisela and signed a charter that would go on to create much more than a football club. It was the birth of the largest sports club in the world today. To mark the occasion of the club’s 125th anniversary, members’ magazine ‘51’ has gathered congratulations from 17 famous figures.

Uli Hoeneß, honorary president

“I remember when I got an offer from FC Bayern as a very young player. My parents and I were determined not to sign immediately, but we did anyway. The power of persuasion was too great, the fascination for this club. I haven't regretted it for a single day. FC Bayern makes hearts beat faster, and to this day I am no different than any other fan. These 125 years of FC Bayern make me happy about everything we have achieved here and, above all, deeply grateful. I’m very happy and proud to be part of this great club. There is no other club for me, that has been the case from day one and will always remain so. My wish for the anniversary is to never let up, never be satisfied and never be boring.”

Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO

“125 years of FC Bayern, 125 years of ‘Mia san mia’ on and off the pitch. The two Ms in our club's motto stand for Miteinander (togetherness) and Menschlichkeit (humanity); values that will also endure in the next 125 years. For all of us, the past also means an obligation to continue to develop the club while preserving its core, because this FC Bayern stands for great success and connects people all over the world. It is a birthday that we can celebrate together with the fans happily, certainly also a little proudly, and full of optimism.”

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, long-time CEO

“Of the 125 years, I’ve been able to experience over 50 at first hand and am convinced that the fans can be very proud of the development of their club. FC Bayern has always adhered to the golden rule of combining sporting success and highly attractive football with a solid financial foundation - an outstanding achievement among top international clubs. I wish FC Bayern all the best for the future and am certain that the club is on the right path to much more great success.”

Sepp Maier, club legend

“I can say from our time in the 70s that when we meet today, it's still as if we had never been apart. That's what characterises FC Bayern, that togetherness. We sometimes disagree with each other, but afterwards we look each other in the eye again and work together. That's how it's always been done here at Bayern. The successful years at this club far outweigh the bad ones, and that's how it should still be in 125 years' time.”

Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

“On behalf of Real Madrid, I would like to congratulate FC Bayern on this special anniversary. 125 years of club history is an impressive milestone that emphasises the size and significance of one of the most prestigious clubs in the world. Bayern Munich stands for passion, success and tradition - values that unite us in football. It makes us proud that our clubs have created so many unforgettable moments that are an integral part of European football history. As president of Real Madrid since 2000, I have enjoyed a close and friendly relationship with the management of FC Bayern. This extraordinary exchange and the shared values make our partnership so special. On the 125th anniversary, I would like to express my admiration and respect for FC Bayern - for your legendary history and your contribution to making football such an esteemed sport worldwide.”

Pep Guardiola, former Bayern coach

“It was a privilege and an honour for me to be the coach of Bayern. This club, with its 125-year history, with unique figures such as Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, with this heart and passion, on and off the pitch, is one of the greatest in the world. The fans can be proud of their Bayern, just as I am proud to feel part of the Bayern family. Happy birthday on this special occasion. A great past that is an inspiration for the future.”

Jose Mourinho, coaching legend

“My first encounter with Bayern was in 1976, when I watched a 0-0 draw between Benfica and Bayern in the stands of the Estadio da Luz with my father and got to see legends like Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller live. Later, I had the great privilege of playing against Bayern with four clubs in Chelsea, Inter Milan in the unforgettable 2010 final in Madrid, then Real Madrid and finally Tottenham. I remember great duels and fascinating stories, and always the extraordinary class of this club. I have always admired Bayern, its players and managers with the greatest respect. All the best for the future.”

Markus Söder, Bavaria’s Minister-President

“FC Bayern is truly world class. It stands for consistent top performances and great success and records, both at national and international level. It inspires football fans in Bavaria and all over the world. It inspires young people to enjoy football and sport and conveys team spirit, tolerance and fairness. In addition to the men's team, this also applies to the women's team and the basketball players, who have been successfully collecting titles for years. FC Bayern is an exceptional club and the sporting figurehead of the Free State of Bavaria. Congratulations on the 125th anniversary and all the best for the future.”

Dieter Reiter, Mayor of Munich

“No matter where I go in the world, FC Bayern is a household name everywhere. This club makes Munich shine. Founded on 27 February 1900 in Café Gisela, Bayern Munich has written football history with its records. Even more important than the impressive numbers are the feelings - the goosebumps in the stadium, the euphoria of the fans, the immortal legends from Gerd Müller to Franz Beckenbauer, which give the club its strong identity. For its 125th birthday, I wish that FC Bayern will give us many more great moments.”

Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria

“For me, FC Bayern was always more than sport. I hardly knew anything about sport back then. I witnessed the very modest (new) beginnings in the late 1940s, and I saw the solidarity between the club and fans when some of the latter still spoke Yiddish with each other. This cohesion has endured through the ages. FC Bayern continues to have an impact, in Munich and beyond, in sport as well as society, in the way we live together. For us fans, in our hearts. Happy birthday, and mazel tov.”

Manuel Neuer, captain

“It's an indescribable feeling to win trophies, and I've been able to experience a unique era since I joined Bayern. The treble twice, our historic six-title year, 11 Bundesliga titles - I'm very happy to be part of this club, which is now proud to be 125 years old and is not getting a bit long in the tooth because it keeps mobilising new strength to never let up. Congratulations, also to the fans who support our team constantly and everywhere. All our trophies are always for you.”

Giulia Gwinn, FC Bayern Women

“For me as a young girl, it was always something very special when I was allowed to travel with my dad or our whole family from Lake Constance to games at the Allianz Arena. Wearing the Bayern jersey was something I was very proud of. The fact that I've now officially worn the jersey in the women's team for over five years is an absolute dream. FC Bayern is my club. I see the continuous progress in the women's sector and want to be an active part of it. I see the club in its breadth. I enjoy going to basketball, for example, and I appreciate its great social commitment. During my time at Bayern, I’ve torn two cruciate ligaments, and you can feel the absolute support here, especially in difficult times. I've grown up here. Happy 125th birthday, FC Bayern - and thank you very much.”

Max Eberl, board member for sport

“FC Bayern means home and family to me. That's how I got to know this club when I started playing football at Säbener Straße at the age of seven. Decades later, these concepts are still central building blocks of this club. That basically says everything about the depth of FC Bayern. The club can be proud because it has always remained true to itself. Congratulations not least on this, and of course on 125 years of success, which is no coincidence. We will continue to shape the future in this spirit.”

Bianca Rech, FC Bayern Women director

“125 years of FC Bayern, including over 50 years with a women's football section. Our club has always set standards for the future. When women's football was banned in Germany, FC Bayern set a precedent by creating its first women's team. Whether Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge or the current management, women's football has always been promoted here. I am very proud to be part of this club. My wish for the milestone anniversary is to continue to think and act progressively and courageously so that FC Bayern will still be a real role model for everyone in 125 years in the centre of a diverse society, beyond sport.”

Marko Pesic, FC Bayern Basketball managing director

“Canadian educator James Naismith developed the indoor sport of basketball for students in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. It is therefore even older than FC Bayern, which has been playing basketball since 1946. Football has had a unique success story, which has been an incentive and role model for us basketball players since the department was professionalised as a second sport in 2010 thanks to an overwhelming majority vote by members. We enjoy this coexistence in the world's largest club and thank everyone for the support and appreciation we receive from the Bayern family. All the best for the future. Happy birthday, FC Bayern.”

Heiner Jüngling, member No.1

“FC Bayern is my heart. I've been very lucky to be a member of the big FC Bayern family from birth, and that makes me immensely proud. Figures like Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoeneß have made this club the most human club in the world in my eyes, and at the same time one of the most successful. That is unique. You simply feel at home at FC Bayern. I have followed a large part of the 125-year success story. My wish for the anniversary is please keep it up.”

Marcel Reif, sports reporter

“FC Bayern is the industry leader. There is nothing anywhere near close. And that means that a lot has been done right in 125 years. I don't have to be a fan to appreciate that, so in all neutrality, Bayern are the best. Always wanting to be at the top is also the bane of good deeds. If you ever come second, there's a crisis of purpose. Personally, I like that because it constantly drives this club forward. I have experienced many defeats with FC Bayern. It has always risen again and celebrated the greatest triumphs. This club stands for emotion, it tests the limits of what is possible, for better or for worse. I wish FC Bayern calm and composure, and at the same time, there always has to be a bit of chaos and drama, because this club is characterised more than almost any other by the fact that it often brings out the best in the end, against all odds.”

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