Tracing the history of the FC Bayern Women

Women on the football pitch? Yes! This has been going on at FC Bayern since 7 June 1970 - and from now in the FC Bayern Museum. The long period of time without visitors has been spent working on the area, a year after the 50th anniversary, and it was officially opened this Wednesday by president Herbert Hainer, CEO Oliver Kahn and Karin Danner, head of the FC Bayern women's department.

"The exhibition is very interesting, exciting and rich in detail," said Herbert Hainer after an initial tour. "The history shows that once again FC Bayern is a pioneer. We have made a decisive contribution to the development of women's football in Germany."

Oliver Kahn added at the talk: "The outstanding past season only underpinned the fact that our women's team is also among the elite in Europe. Their charisma is enormous. The way to the top is the result of meticulous and continuous work." The duo had an in-depth discussion with protagonists from past and present, before record appearance maker Carina Wenninger brought the replica of the 2021 championship trophy into the showcase in the exhibition. The recently won trophy can now be seen by all visitors.

Danner: Our history has a lot to offer

Karin Danner drew the following summary: "It's a great honour for our history to be illuminated so well at this point. I know from my own experience that it has a lot to offer. It's no coincidence we're a top German side today." The head of department has played just as much a role in the development of the department as in the success of the new exhibition area. Of over 700 exhibits that came together in recent years after the call to set up a women's archive, she made several hundred available. Around 50 of these can now be found in the permanent exhibition.

Exhibits, pictures, anecdotes and faces await - carefully selected and informatively arranged. The focus is of course on the FC Bayern Women's journey, but the story is also placed in a social context. The beginnings of women's football well over 100 years ago are just as much a part of the exhibition as the current standing of women players as semi-professionals. Milestones in the women's football movement and the history of FC Bayern Women can be understood and experienced with moving images, photos and exhibits. The youth department is also discussed, and real "treasures" are shown in the treasure chamber.

Hainer repeats his appeal: Don't miss out on development

Particularly impressive is the "Via Triumphalis", based on the men's section, on which all the major trophies won are displayed. The DFB Cup from 2012 can be seen, as well as replicas of the shields for winning the Women's Bundesliga title in 2015, 2016 and 2021. Even the original cup from the first championship in 1976 can be viewed, which has been specially loaned from the DFB museum.

The exhibition shows the department stands for itself - and tells its own story. "We can be proud of the fact we are the only Bundesliga team that has consistently managed a women's department since the women's football ban was lifted - and, in fact, we even started when the ban was still in force", said Hainer. The president also used the stage to repeat an appeal: "Women's football has developed enormously, but has not yet reached its goal. I can only point out again and again that we in Germany must stay in touch with the other top European leagues."