FC Bayern bid farewell to Dr Fritz Scherer with a moving memorial service on Saturday. The club’s long-standing president, former vice-president, former treasurer and honorary vice-president passed away in March at the age of 85.
Friends and companions of Scherer came to the FC Bayern Museum in the Allianz Arena in the run-up to the Bundesliga home game against Mainz to commemorate the honorary vice-president. In addition to Scherer's wife Claudia Ide-Scherer, his daughter Katja Dremmler and grandchildren, the guests included president Herbert Hainer, honorary president Uli Hoeneß, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and deputy CEO Michael Diederich, Heidi and Joel Beckenbauer as well as former players such as Franz ‘Bulle’ Roth.
“We are saying goodbye to a person who has left a deep mark on the club. Fritz Scherer understood that success is not only decided on the pitch, but also in the way we operate behind the scenes. He was an architect of FC Bayern, someone who took on responsibility without wanting to be the centre of attention,” said Hainer in his speech, paying tribute to Scherer's great services to FC Bayern. “Fritz Scherer will never be forgotten at FC Bayern. We want to live on what he stood for: trust, continuity and loyalty. He was a companion, a trailblazer and an unforgotten president,” Hainer continued.
The president also presented Claudia with the book of condolence in which numerous fans had written personal words of farewell to Scherer at the FC Bayern Museum in recent weeks.
In his speech, Hoeneß emphasised: “What has always characterised our collaboration has been trust. This also resulted in a friendship. His work was never characterised by his ego. The question that drove him was always: What do I have to do to ensure that FC Bayern does well? He had his heart in the right place. We and I will remember him fondly.” When Hoeneß started as general manager at FC Bayern in 1979, Scherer had also started as treasurer in the same year. It was to be a long and very successful partnership.
Ide-Scherer addressed her words to senior figures at the club: “I would like to thank FC Bayern from the bottom of my heart for the generous and dignified honour bestowed on my husband. Fritz would have really enjoyed today's ceremony and would have been delighted with the appreciation. For him, the Allianz Arena was a place full of joy and excitement, full of encounters and friendships. The stadium was his second home. He worked tirelessly with his passion for FC Bayern. FC Bayern was one of the defining elements of his life. He will remain in our hearts forever.”
The long-time president, former vice-president, former treasurer and honorary vice-president had been a member of FC Bayern since 1 July 1971, and his last membership number was 418. In total, Scherer was involved in various club management committees for over 30 years.
