Everyone knows FC Bayern Munich is one of the biggest football clubs in the world. Theyâve won everything, they dominate the Bundesliga, and their stadium is a fortress. But thereâs a lot more to the club than just trophies and titles.
Here are 21 surprising, strange, and awesome facts about Bayern that every football fan â and German learner â should know.
đ The Basics
- Bayern has won the Bundesliga more than 30 times.
No other German club even comes close. Most other clubs are competing for second place. - Theyâve never been relegated from the Bundesliga.
Since joining the top flight in 1965, theyâve stayed there â unlike many historic clubs. - Theyâve won the treble twice.
In 2013 and 2020, Bayern won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League in one season.
đ©đȘ Club Culture
- âMia san miaâ is more than a slogan.
Itâs Bavarian dialect for âWe are who we areâ â a declaration of identity and pride. Read more about that here. - The club is over 120 years old.
It was founded in 1900 by 11 men in a Munich restaurant. - The official club name is long.
âFuĂball-Club Bayern MĂŒnchen e.V.â The âe.V.â stands for âeingetragener Vereinâ (registered association).
✠The Players
- Theyâve had Ballon dâOr winners.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Gerd MĂŒller are among the clubâs legendary award-winners. - Thomas MĂŒller speaks fluent Bavarian.
In interviews, he sometimes slips into dialect â confusing even German learners. - Theyâve had more World Cup winners than most national teams.
Bayern players have won World Cups for Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, and Italy. - Their top scorer of all time? Gerd MĂŒller â with 566 goals.
Yes, 566. Unreal.
đïž The Stadium
- The Allianz Arena can change colors.
Red for Bayern. Blue for TSV 1860 Munich. White for Germany. Itâs LED magic. - It looks like a giant inflatable tire from above.
And it glows at night â you can see it from the air when flying into Munich. - Before the Allianz Arena, they shared a stadium with 1860 Munich.
The Olympic Stadium was their home from 1972 to 2005.
đ° The Business Side
- Theyâre fan-owned â mostly.
75% of the club is owned by members. The rest is shared by Adidas, Audi, and Allianz. - Bayern is consistently one of the richest clubs in the world.
But theyâre known for financial discipline and avoiding massive debt. - They helped rescue Dortmund from bankruptcy.
In 2003, Bayern gave rival club Borussia Dortmund a âŹ2 million loan â interest-free.
đ Global Reach
- They have official fan clubs in over 100 countries.
From Japan to Brazil to the USA, Bayern fans are everywhere. - The clubâs most-followed player online is… Alphonso Davies.
The Canadian left-back is also a TikTok star. - Their games are broadcast in over 200 countries.
Thatâs more than the UN has member states.
đ§ Random & Weird Facts
- They have a chess division.
FC Bayern isnât just about football â they compete in chess, basketball, and more. - Their mascot is a bear named Berni.
Heâs fluffy, red, and a big part of home games and fan events.
đ Final Whistle
FC Bayern Munich is more than just a football powerhouse â itâs a cultural icon, a business model, and a community hub all in one.
Whether you admire them or root against them, you canât deny their influence. Now that you know a bit more behind the scenes, youâre one step closer to understanding what makes Mia san mia more than just words.
đŹ Got another fun Bayern fact to add? Drop it in the comments or message us â we love hearing fan trivia!