The following is a book excerpt from European Soccer Leagues 2019/20.
BAYERN MUNICH
A Brief Team History
When it comes to excellence one could successfully argue there is no greater presence in German soccer than Bayern Munich. It has won the German League more times than you can imagine (28 and counting), with titles from smaller tournaments—DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup, and DFL-Ligapokal—adding up like a seventh-grader’s math homework, along with European titles to boot.
Bayern flourished big-time in the 1970s, with some of its most iconic players taking center stage around that time. This was a golden era for Bayern Munich as the club won the European Cup in three consecutive attempts (1973-74, 1974-75, and 1975-76). Franz Beckenbauer, the elegant ‘queen on the chessboard’ operating out of defense, was captain from 1970-77.
The players that have roamed through the halls of Germany’s finest club add up like an A list of the Bundesliga’s future Mount Rushmore: Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Lothar Matthaus, to name a few. In the modern era, the list of talent continues with Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, and Thomas Muller. It goes without saying, there are so many others worth mentioning that would require leasing out a metric ton of book space.
But wait. As great as Bayern is, last season (that of 2018-19) left a large window open for discussion after the team struggled with more losses than it expected and talk of coach Niko Kovac’s departure was lingering. Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben were aging. These two have been absolutely critical to Bayern’s success in recent years. As they are stepping out of their prime and getting closer to retirement things around Bayern have been in limbo, somewhat. Though, as should be expected, Bayern will look to make drastic improvements for the 2019-20 season.
BAYERN MUNICH
A Brief Team History
When it comes to excellence one could successfully argue there is no greater presence in German soccer than Bayern Munich. It has won the German League more times than you can imagine (28 and counting), with titles from smaller tournaments—DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup, and DFL-Ligapokal—adding up like a seventh-grader’s math homework, along with European titles to boot.
Bayern flourished big-time in the 1970s, with some of its most iconic players taking center stage around that time. This was a golden era for Bayern Munich as the club won the European Cup in three consecutive attempts (1973-74, 1974-75, and 1975-76). Franz Beckenbauer, the elegant ‘queen on the chessboard’ operating out of defense, was captain from 1970-77.
The players that have roamed through the halls of Germany’s finest club add up like an A list of the Bundesliga’s future Mount Rushmore: Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Lothar Matthaus, to name a few. In the modern era, the list of talent continues with Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, and Thomas Muller. It goes without saying, there are so many others worth mentioning that would require leasing out a metric ton of book space.
But wait. As great as Bayern is, last season (that of 2018-19) left a large window open for discussion after the team struggled with more losses than it expected and talk of coach Niko Kovac’s departure was lingering. Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben were aging. These two have been absolutely critical to Bayern’s success in recent years. As they are stepping out of their prime and getting closer to retirement things around Bayern have been in limbo, somewhat. Though, as should be expected, Bayern will look to make drastic improvements for the 2019-20 season.
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