125 years of FC Bayern – and now a team photo that has never been seen before. Men and women together, shoulder to shoulder, a historic image which is enclosed for our members as an exclusive poster in the October edition of club magazine ‘51’.
England internationals Harry Kane and Georgia Stanway chat to each other, Austrians Sarah Zadrazil and Konrad Laimer share a warm embrace, Jovana Damnjanović greets Aleksandar Pavlović with a smile. It looks like a family gathering – and in a way it is. A few months ago, they celebrated the league titles on the Town Hall balcony, and just two days earlier the men’s and women’s teams stood side by side again at a reception hosted by Minister President Markus Söder at the State Chancellery. Now they’re united again – not on a balcony or in a ceremonial hall, but in the underground car park at Säbener Straße.
While the participants take their positions, José Barcala grabs his long-sleeved top – and takes it off when he sees Vincent Kompany sitting down next to him in a t-shirt. The two head coaches are in matching clothes, as are the other 49 people around them: 42 outfield players in red and white home jerseys, plus seven goalkeepers including Mala Grohs and Manuel Neuer dressed entirely in green. Men and women, two coaches, two teams – united in a photo that has never been seen before in the history of our club. In FC Bayern's 125th anniversary year, a scene has been created that goes far beyond sport: a symbol of equality and solidarity.
With each other, not next to each other
“The picture fits perfectly, especially in this anniversary year: it stands for change, diversity and the development of the club. A joint team photo sends a strong signal – both now and for the future,” says Bianca Rech. The director of FC Bayern Women played a key role in bringing the teams together. “We thought long and hard beforehand about whether the timing was right,” she explains. “Changing the training schedule on a Friday before an away game is not ideal. But we knew immediately that this photo would send a strong message. We really wanted to seize this opportunity.”
„This picture signifies appreciation, equality and respect.”
Bianca "Jay" Rech, director of FC Bayern Women
Coordinating over 50 people required even more planning in an already busy schedule for our professional teams. First, a covered area had to be found that was big enough for the ten-metre-wide set and all sorts of technology. After all, everyone should be shown in the perfect light. It was found in a separate part of the underground car park, where small facility management vans are usually parked. Sufficient height, sufficient width and enough space for 51 people. Set-up began the day before, with exhibition stand builders screwing platforms, benches and tables firmly to the floor. There was no risk of anything tipping over or a bench suddenly falling over with the players on it. Even small details such as the steam-ironed jerseys were prepared: when the moment comes, everything has to fit perfectly.
But as arduous as the organisation was, the symbolic power outweighs everything. “This picture signifies appreciation, equality and respect,” says Rech. “It reminds us that modern societies – and their sports cultures – benefit from diversity. Football is always a reflection of society, and that’s exactly why this photo is a statement.”
For the shoot, everyone smiled in front of a neutral white background, but in the finished poster, the Allianz Arena glows red thanks to AI. It’s the home ground for the men's team and now also the stage for big nights for the women's team, such as the recent Bundesliga opening match against Leverkusen in front of more than 57,700 fans.
Visibility the central point
For the women’s players, the photo is more than just one for the timeline. “The ongoing development of women's football at FC Bayern cannot be overlooked,” adds Rech. “We are not standing still but want to continue moving forward. Our players and staff feel this appreciation – and see that there is room for further growth here.” A key point here is visibility. “This photo will go around the world, and thus give our players and women's football as a whole a new stage once again.” And it’s an image with a future. “When we look back in ten years, it should stand for openness, acceptance and diversity. It makes it clear that what counts here is performance, team spirit and cohesion – not gender or stereotypes.”
After not even 10 minutes, the joint appointment is done. While Kompany and his players stay in position for their own team photo, the women change back from their football boots into their trainers and head to the training ground. It turned out to be a good omen, as the men beat Hamburger SV 5-0 at the Allianz Arena on the following day, while the women triumphed 3-0 at RB Leipzig another 24 hours later. Two emphatic wins, two emphatic messages – sporting and symbolic. The red shirt of FC Bayern is a commitment: to new successes, together side by side.
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