Double, records, prospects: When the best is only the beginning

When coach José Barcala addresses his players, he often begins with two simple words: “OK, team!” he announces succinctly. Then everyone knows it’s going to be something important. The players move closer together, link arms in a huddle, the conversations go quiet, their gaze turns inward. It has become a little ritual in a season that has surpassed anything FC Bayern Women had previously experienced. 

Therefore, what remains at the end of this season is not only the memory of individual images, of the eighth Meisterschale, of the cup win in Cologne or of the celebrations at Marienplatz after the best campaign in the club’s history. One thing remains above all: the recognition that FC Bayern Women raised their own standard in 2025/26.

The second successive double, the fourth Bundesliga title in a row, an unbeaten league campaign, a cup win without conceding a goal and a run to the semi-finals of the Champions League. These facts speak of a historic season, but they alone don’t explain why it was so special. The crucial factor was the manner in which the team went about it: controlled and variable – with a healthy self-confidence.

Bayern dominated the league with a consistency that even exceeded their own high expectations. Twenty-four wins, two draws, zero defeats, 90 goals scored and just nine conceded: that’s not just a title-winning record, but an expression of a team that barely allowed any fluctuations across the season. In the DFB Cup, too, FCB defended their title without conceding a single goal, so the 4-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg in the final was less a surprise and more the logical conclusion of a campaign in which control and consistency were among the greatest qualities.

President Herbert Hainer described the development as follows: “There’s no getting past us in Germany now. And in Europe we’re very close to the top.” That pretty much sums up the current situation. Domestically, FC Bayern Women are now the benchmark. Internationally, the journey isn’t over yet – but it’s clearer than ever. 

Barcala’s skill: Preserve, sharpen, improve 

Barcala has undoubtedly been one of the key figures of this season. When the Spaniard succeeded Alexander Straus as head coach last summer, he didn’t inherit a team in transition. He inherited a team of champions, who had just won the first double in the club’s history. That was precisely where the difficulty lay. Those who take over a successful team can’t change everything on principle. You have to show that even more is possible.

That’s exactly what Barcala did, leading the side to its most successful season in his first year. Not because he reinvented everything, but because he refined and developed what was already there with his own style. Bayern appeared more patient in build-up, clearer in their use of space and calmer in periods of pressure. They defended uncompromisingly but rarely frantically. They controlled matches without constantly having to overexert themselves. And time and again they found the right moment to up the tempo.

Probably the biggest step forward this season is that Bayern weren’t just superior, but also mature. The team were able to manage games but also speed them up when needed. They were able to handle setbacks and the pressure of being favourites. They were able to rotate without losing structure. That’s the hallmark of a coaching team who not only demand trust but visibly exemplify it.

Barcala himself has remained outwardly humble despite all the success. “I’m so proud of these players, it’s a privilege to work here,” he said. Words that don’t sound like an obligatory cliché but like a coach who understood that this season didn’t happen through ideas on a tactics board alone, rather through a group who accepted these ideas, carried them and took them further. 

There was never a sense of complacency. On the contrary: the team constantly appeared hungry for the next challenge. Every record was proof of development, but not a reason to lower standards.

This dominance has now been recognised from outside, too. When opponents and opposition coaches acknowledge that Bayern have clearly raised the bar, then it’s more than a snapshot. It’s the confirmation of a journey that began years ago and became visible once and for all in 2025/26. 

Europa as honest mirror

As great as the domestic season was, the European yardstick remained just as important. The Bavarians reached the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2021. Their performances in the Champions League highlighted that they can not only dominate in Germany, but have also grown internationally. At the same time, the clash with FC Barcelona made it clear what the next level is. And perhaps how close they already are to it.

It’s this suspense that makes the season so valuable. Bayern didn’t see Europe as a bonus but as a touchstone. The crushing 7-1 defeat in the autumn was processed rather than supressed. When they met Barça again in the spring, the team showed significantly more resilience. It may not have been enough to reach the final, but it did provide a crucial insight for the coming years: the gap hasn’t disappeared but it has shrunk.

Everyone doing their bit

What also made this season remarkable was the depth of the squad. Not every player took centre stage every week, but almost every role had importance. Experienced figures provided direction, younger players grew from bigger assignments, rotations worked, absences were offset and new elements integrated. The quality of the squad was huge, but what was crucial was how naturally it served the greater good.

Players like Glódís Viggósdóttir, Pernille Harder, Magdalena Eriksson, Klara Bühl and Giulia Gwinn epitomised experience, leadership quality and international class. Momoko Tanikawa, Alara, Franziska Kett and Ena Mahmutovic demonstrated how much promise this squad has. In Carolin Simon, Mala Grohs, Georgia Stanway and Natalia Padilla Bidas, four players are departing the club, but the prospect of the return of Sarah Zadrazil and Lena Oberdorf can offer the team added depth.

Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen also highlighted this development: “Unbeaten in the Bundesliga, and now back-to-back doubles for the first time in the club’s history – we are delighted with our FC Bayern Women’s impressive journey. Our new coach José Barcala has seamlessly carried on the successful work of his predecessor. The overall development under the management of Bianca Rech pleases us all and will reach new dimensions in the long term with the expansion of Sportpark Unterhaching. We are set for the future.”

This look ahead is crucial. The 2025/26 campaign was not only a record-breaking year on the pitch, but also a step forward in terms of structure. The move to Sportpark Unterhaching as the new home stadium is in keeping with this team’s development: more room, more opportunities, more visibility.

The best season in the club’s history is particularly beautiful because it also marks another beginning.

FC Bayern Women will visit Tokyo this summer on the ‘Allianz Women’s Tour’: