Bianca Rech: 'This development is down to a genuine team effort'

For exactly ten years, Bianca Rech has been shaping the development of FC Bayern Women – initially in team management, and now as director of women’s football. In an interview with fcbayern.com, she talks about memorable titles, thrilling Champions League nights, bold decisions and the culture that underpins the club. A conversation about what has been – and about everything that is yet to come.

Bianca Rech – The interview

Jay, you’ve been an FC Bayern official for exactly ten years today. What does this anniversary mean to you personally?
Bianca Rech: "Ten years at FC Bayern mark a very special milestone for me. During this time, I have had the privilege of experiencing women’s football from various perspectives and helping to develop it further alongside many wonderful people. I'm very grateful for the trust that has been placed in me, and proud to be part of this development. My thanks go above all to Karin Danner, who gave me this opportunity. At the same time, I'm not just looking back, but above all looking ahead."

You’ve held various roles at FC Bayern – from team management to becoming the first female director of women’s football. Which anecdotes from your early days have stuck in your memory the most, and what does your day-to-day life look like now?
"In the early days, a lot of it was very hands-on and personal. We took on multiple tasks simultaneously and often had to improvise. It was precisely this intense period that showed me how important teamwork, flexibility and mutual trust are. Today, my day-to-day work is much more strategic. It involves squad planning, structures, discussions with the players and the coaching staff, further developing the environment, and shaping the long-term direction of women’s football at FC Bayern. It never really gets boring. There are plenty of anecdotes and stories – one of our first Champions League trips to Kazakhstan is certainly one of them.”

With five Bundesliga titles, three Supercup victories and two DFB Cup triumphs to your name, you’ve seen your fair share of success as an official. Is there one achievement that stands out for you in particular?
"Every title is special because many months of hard work have gone into every success. For me, however, the first league title that I was able to experience in my role stands out in particular. It showed we were on the right track and gave the team and everyone involved an extra boost of confidence. But if I’m honest, last season really stands out above all else. Winning the double is always something special, but what really made last season unique was the semi-final in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Those matches were incredibly moving. Just as important to me, however, were the developments off the pitch: playing four matches at the Allianz Arena and seeing how the fans cheered on our team there – those scenes will stay with me for a long time to come. It shows that women’s football has taken its place at the forefront here, not just in sporting terms but also emotionally.”

What goals and challenges will be front and centre for FC Bayern Women in the coming years?
"We want to continue competing for every trophy and maintain our place amongst Europe’s top teams. Last season’s semi-final was an important step, but not the end of the road. I see the biggest challenge quite clearly in European competition, particularly against the English league. The investment that has gone into women’s football there in recent years is huge – both in infrastructure and in squad planning and marketing. This is bringing about lasting change to the competitive landscape in Europe, and we must take care not to fall behind in this regard.

In practical terms, this means that we must continue to invest boldly – not only in the squad, but also in the broader framework so our players can train and develop at the highest level. At the same time, we intend to continue steadfastly along the path we've chosen: developing our base in Unterhaching, forging even stronger ties with our fans, and implementing a marketing strategy that lives up to our sporting ambitions. Ultimately, it's about not only maintaining the momentum of recent years, but also strategically building on it – in sporting and financial terms, and with regard to the public perception of women’s football. What’s more, we must do a better job of developing young talent and expanding our youth development programme.”

Looking back on your ten years at Bayern, what are you particularly proud of?
“I'm particularly proud of how women’s football at FC Bayern has developed overall. The passion and sense of responsibility shown by everyone involved in this journey is a joy to see every day. This development is down to a genuine team effort. What perhaps fills me with the most pride, amidst all our sporting success, is our identity and the culture we've built up over the years. That's something money can’t buy.

I hear that time and again from former players who stopped playing for us a long time ago: even today, they still talk about how special their time at FC Bayern was – the togetherness in the team, the values we live by, the feeling of being part of something bigger. For me, that's the finest proof that we've created something unique here, something that goes beyond individual trophies or seasons. This culture doesn’t just happen by itself. It’s the result of how we work as a club, how we treat our players and the standards we set for ourselves – both on a personal and sporting level. And that is exactly what we want to preserve, no matter how much women’s football becomes more professional and commercialised on the international stage. Sporting success should always be built on this foundation, not the other way round.”

What are your hopes for the future of FC Bayern Women and women’s football as a whole?
“For FC Bayern Women, I hope that we can continue our success story whilst maintaining our own identity. We want to remain ambitious, act boldly and create an environment in which our players can develop to their full potential. For women’s football as a whole, I hope to see even greater visibility, recognition and acceptance.”

Ten years of women’s football at FC Bayern: Where did the club stand back then, and where does it stand today?
"Ten years ago, there was already a great deal of passion and potential. At the same time, the structure was still considerably smaller, and women’s football received less public attention overall. Today, FC Bayern is more professional, more visible and has a broader base in women’s football. We have better conditions, a wider reach and higher standards. However, it's crucial that we do not rest on our laurels.”

Which decision over the past ten years required a great deal of courage, but in hindsight brought about enormous change?
"Courage is always needed when you stray from familiar paths and make long-term decisions whose success is not immediately apparent. Many developments do not arise from a single measure, but from consistent decisions taken over a period of years. It was particularly important to invest in professionalism, staff, infrastructure and young talent – even when the immediate returns were not yet foreseeable. Looking back, it's precisely these steps that brought about significant change. We always believed in the potential, even if it did take some persuasion at one point or another. The decisions have paid off.”

What would you like to say today to Bianca Rech starting her first day at FC Bayern?
"I would tell her: Stay curious, stay true to yourself, and have faith in yourself and those around you. Not every decision will immediately feel right or easy. But when you commit to something with conviction, honesty and passion, a great deal can come of it. I would probably also tell her to make a conscious effort to enjoy those special moments along the way and to pace herself."

Is there a behind-the-scenes moment that fans really ought to know about?
"On matchdays, fans mainly see the 90 minutes on the pitch. Behind that moment, however, lie countless discussions, training sessions, analyses, organisational tasks and personal stories. What you really need to know is that the players put in a huge amount of effort every day, also during periods when things aren’t going perfectly. The togetherness within the squad and across the entire coaching staff is something truly special. Many successes are forged long before they become visible in the stadium.”

Lena Oberdorf and Giulia Gwinn made their comebacks in the home match against Mainz:

The match report on the home win against Mainz 05: