Marko Pešić alongside Walter Mennekes

An event with two leading roles - at the members' away Stammtisch (get-together) ahead of FC Bayern's match in Mainz (2-1), the 100 participants drawn from over 200 applicants were treated to an exclusive, special double bill in a vaulted cellar in Mainz city centre: 2nd vice-president Walter Mennekes and Marko Pešić, who is standing for election as his successor at the Annual General Meeting on 21 November, teamed up to help get everyone in the mood for the afternoon's match. The pair expertly provided a glimpse behind the scenes at FC Bayern, took part in a Q&A session with the members, and made time for countless selfies and autographs – and at the end, the two high-fived each other: it had been great fun.

Following a welcome address by managing director Benny Folkmann, Mennekes began by explaining why, after ten years, he was making way for the next generation. He had indicated some time ago to President Herbert Hainer and his colleague Professor Dr Dieter Mayer that he would step down once a candidate had been found as part of the process of bringing in younger blood: "Marko Pesic knows FC Bayern inside out, loves and lives for this club, and brings fresh impetus to the table – I couldn't imagine anyone better."

Pešić, who was named an honorary member at the 2025 Annual General Meeting after 15 years in a leadership role at FC Bayern Basketball, clearly illustrated how he views his candidacy. "I have the utmost respect for the Annual General Meeting as a body, and before the members have confirmed my appointment, it would be presumptuous of me to make grand speeches," he said. "But what I can promise is that I want to bring all the passion I feel for this club to the role. I owe a lot to FC Bayern – and I want to give something back."

The pair made a lasting impression on the members. “We’ve known Mennekes for a long time,” said Karin Holler, who, with membership card number 692, was – at least on paper – the club’s most loyal member at the event, “and everything Marko Pešić said made perfect sense – it's good to see some young faces coming through." Oliver Schmidt, who had come along with his daughter Franzi, spoke enthusiastically about how approachable the club’s management were: “They went from table to table; FC Bayern simply exudes a sense of togetherness, just like a family.”

After the table-hopping, the two hosts raffled off two tickets for FCB’s match in Mainz – and enlisted the support of Lio, the youngest person present, who had turned up wearing a Michael Olise shirt. Armin Klomann and Alexander Boss were delighted to win the tickets. It was the sixth away Stammtisch following events in Cologne, Hamburg, Leipzig, Salzburg and Vienna, after FC Bayern developed the dialogue formats for members in 2022 – and once again, members of the FCB volunteer programme "PACK MA'S" had lent a hand. "It was wonderful to experience all of this today alongside Walter," said Pešić. "In my eyes, FC Bayern is essentially characterised by two traits: a sense of togetherness and closeness. Both could be felt here today." To conclude, Mennekes was asked what the club meant to him. "FC Bayern changed my life, steered it in a direction I could never have dreamed of – FC Bayern is and always will be a dream," replied the 78-year-old. "I am beyond grateful for everything I have been able to experience here."

Pešić received long round of applause when asked what ‘Mia san mia’ meant to him personally. He said he’d have to provide a bit of background: a few years ago, following a racist incident, a journalist had asked him for his opinion. "I said that standing up to racism isn’t a question; it’s a mindset, an attitude you have to live by." He feels the same way about the club’s motto: “You have to live ‘Mia san mia’ rather than just talking about it all the time. That’s why, for me, it’s not just a slogan – it's what defines FC Bayern, it's a way of life."