Graphic with FC Bayern fans cheering (Designed by Stars and Stripes Staff)
From the Allianz Arena in Munich, comes FC Bayern München; a Fußball (football) team whose ambition and drive to win have held strong for over 125 years.
Allianz Arena. Munich, Germanyr (uslatar-Adobe Stock )
In 1900, founding father, Franz John, had the idea to bring together a group of people to play Fußball. At the time, Schwabing was an area where artists and innovators from all over came together and on February 27th, 11 founding players formed FC Bayern, making Fußball the go-to sport. One of the main goals of the club was to remain independent from others with no loans and no credit. This has been maintained by the club since.
FC Bayern has become one of, if not the most successful club in German Fußball history, having won a record 34 German Bundesliga league titles (11 of them consecutively from 2013 to 2023). The team holds the record for the most Bundesliga titles as well as the most DFB-Pokal (German Cup) wins at 20 wins. They have also won the Champions League six times, along with other international titles like the FIFA Club World Cup.
Perhaps this is partly attributed to their motto “Mia san Mia” (We are who we are), which embodies self-belief and the ambition to win. With such a strong winning mentality, it’s no wonder FC Bayern also has the most fans. The team has the support of over 432,500 club members, more than any other club in the world.
The Kit
Team Colors: The official colors that the team and fans sport are red and white, but this was not always the case. Before the merger with Münchener Sport-Club (MSC) in 1906, the club wore white and blue to represent Bavaria and the official state colors. Blue has since been reintroduced in the team’s logo. Blue and white diamonds in the crest reflect the flag of Bavaria.
Bayern Munich Logo on Red Home Jersey (charnsitr-Adobe Stock )
Stars: You may have noticed five stars on the jersey. FC Bayern München is the only team that wears five stars on their jersey as of right now. The stars represent an accumulation of Bundesliga championship titles. In 2021, the fifth star was added for the first time after the team’s 30th championship.
One Star: Three Bundesliga titles
Two Stars: Five Bundesliga titles
Three Stars: 10 Bundesliga titles
Four Stars: 20 Bundesliga titles
Five Stars: 30 Bundesliga titles
Need to know
Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich home stadium. Munich, Germany ( uslatar-Adobe Stock )
Home Ground: Allianz Arena in Munich
Team Nicknames: Der FCB (The FCB), Die Bayern (The Bavarians), Stern des Südens (Star of the South), Die Roten (The Reds)
Team Motto: “Mia san Mia” (We are who we are)
Chant: “Immer vorwärts FC Bayern” (Forever forward FC Bayern)
Song: “Stern des Sudens” is the official song; however, in 2025, they were gifted a stadium anthem from the fans based on the chant “Immer vorwärts.”
On your visit
Celebrating: Like in most cities with a prominent Fußball team, fans flood the streets sporting team colors and gathering pre- and post-game for beers, filling the surrounding area with lively chants in support of the home players. Frequented game-day bars such as Stadion an der Schleißheimerstraße are full. Leopoldstraße in the Schwabing district is a well-known “party street” where fans celebrate, especially after major title wins.
125 plus years: The club celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2025. For fans worldwide, the official website launched a special digital edition of “Magazine 51” in English. It features 125 pages of stories about the club, including legends like Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier, Uli Hoeneß and Bastian Schweinsteiger, as well as current stars such as Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala and Manuel Neuer.
FC Bayern Museum: This thoughtfully curated museum is the largest club museum in Germany. It houses the history of FC Bayern München from their first championship in 1932, up until the spectacular treble season in 2012/2013. Plus, it stays up to date with current events. There are interactive displays and visitors can walk among life-size figures of current players, shirts from almost every season, trophy replicas and more. Museum and stadium tour combi-tickets, where you can see the players’ tunnel, are available. Keep an eye out for “Meet the Legend” events with former players.
Fans cheering in the stadium (Marco Martins-Adobe Stock)