Bayern Women honoured as 'ambassadors of the sport'

The next award for FC Bayern: after long-standing CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was honoured by Markus Söder with the Minister-President's Personal Prize, the Bayern women's team were presented with the award for ‘Ambassadors of Bavarian Sport’ by Söder and Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann at a ceremony. This accolade recognises not only the team's sporting successes, but also their commitment to values such as fairness, diversity and social cohesion. Bayern legends Karin Danner and Melanie Leupolz accepted the award on behalf of the team, who were busy securing a 3-1 victory at Wolfsburg. Among the invited guests in the packed hall were award winner Rummenigge and Georg Emmerdinger, an FCB employee and one of Bavaria's most successful athletes with a disability.

The award is “great recognition of the pioneering work done in women's football as a whole”, said Danner, a former player and then long-time general manager at FC Bayern, at the event. “We want to be role models and inspire young people to pursue their dreams in sport,” she added. “I think this award as ‘Ambassadors of Bavarian Sport’ for our current team is something very special,” said Leupolz. “Last year, Josia Topf was honoured with it here – it is an honour to be listed alongside him. Thank you very much on behalf of the whole club.”

Rummenigge had already been honoured by Söder, who described him as “an extraordinary personality both on and off the pitch”, who “led FC Bayern to new heights as a striker and had a decisive influence on the national team. Especially when the going got tough, the team could rely on him.” Rummenigge may have been born in Westphalia, the Minister-President said with a wink, “but he has the Bavarian gene. He is a great ambassador for Bavaria around the world.” Rummenigge was celebrated on stage to loud applause from the audience, while iconic images from his unique career were shown on the monitors.

In a moving speech, Rummenigge thanked his wife Martina in the hall: “I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you to my wife. She has managed the family superbly, supported me and always stood by me.” He also thanked his colleagues at FC Bayern: "The people you have by your side make all the difference. We have always been fortunate at FC Bayern to have fantastic people in this club who have also brought the club to the top.” He described former Germany international Paul Breitner, who was sitting in the audience, as “the best and most important teammate I have ever had in a football team”. From an early age, he was able to learn from his teammates and later general manager Uli Hoeneß, he explained.

Rummenigge: Clear statement in favour of Olympics

Rummenigge also took a clear stance on the question of bidding for the Olympic Games. “I believe that these second Games after 1972 would give Munich another boost and upswing. That's why I can really only warmly recommend that all citizens vote in favour,” said the long-time national team player. On 26 October, a referendum will be held in Munich on the city's bid for the Olympic Games.

In her laudatory speech, former FCB player Julia Simic emphasised that FC Bayern Women impress not only with their sporting successes, but also with their social commitment. Whether in school projects, social initiatives or as role models for young girls, the players are passionately committed to promoting women's football and strengthening the sport as a whole. The sports award is both an incentive and an obligation for Bayern Women to continue on their path as ambassadors for the sport. “We take this award as motivation to continue to stand up for our values and to promote women's football in Germany and beyond,” Leupolz explained during the evening. “This honour once again makes it clear that FC Bayern Women are much more than just a successful football team – they are role models, trailblazers and true ambassadors for the sport.”

Danner and Leupolz reflected on the development of women's football, referring to the 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga opening game a few weeks ago at the Allianz Arena, where FC Bayern set a record attendance for women's club football in Germany with 57,762 spectators. The Champions League match against defending champions Arsenal will also be held at the Allianz Arena on 12 November (TICKETS HERE). “The opening match at the Allianz Arena with so many people and the family festival on the esplanade – we have all invested a lot over the past decades to experience something like this, it was a milestone and showed what is possible in women's football,” added Danner.

Bayern has always been ahead of its time in women's football, Danner recalled, pointing out that women were already playing football at the club even though it was still banned in the 1970s. "You'd be hard pressed to find another club with a history like that. In Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, we have always had personalities who have supported us,” she explained, adding that even now, president Herbert Hainer is a regular attendee at matches, while the board led by Jan-Christian Dreesen and Max Eberl always has an open door. “FC Bayern is a very forward-looking club – and you can see that in how the women's team has developed."

The recent joint photo of the men's and women's teams had “a beautiful caption”, said Leupolz. “A picture of a club! That's how it should be: men and women side by side. I also love those pictures of both teams celebrating together in traditional dress on the balcony – those are images that go around the world. That's the identity of FC Bayern. This club stands for the fact that everyone can shape its history, that everyone belongs, that everyone is part of the team.” The next step, she said, is that “we as FC Bayern legends – Karin, Lena Lotzen, Viktoria Schnaderbeck, Gina Lewandowski and I – represent the history of FC Bayern just like Giovane Elber or Claudio Pizarro do. I think it's a great sign that we embody what FC Bayern stands for together with our male colleagues. Success and the path to success is not a question of gender.” It is important “that we show the way”, added Danner. “From role models to legends, always with the message: You girls and boys can do it too! Believe in yourselves! We would like to express our sincere thanks once again for this award – and also congratulate all the other award winners. You inspire people beyond sport, and that's fantastic!"

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was recognised by Minister-President Markus Söder during the week: