February 2025 BAYERN FAMILY a year after the final dahoam – or the jubilation on your return as president in 2016 ? Three wonderful moments , but not comparable with each other . The goals in the European Cup final were my international breakthrough at 22 . I remember how shattered we were before the replay ; we were staggering about in training . But then we played like we were from another planet the next day , including Gerd Müller and myself with two goals each . I grabbed the cup in the dressing room and thought to myself : “ Please stop life now – it can ‘ t get any better than this !“ But there were still many great moments to come . The triumph at Wembley was very emotional for me because I knew I was heading to prison . Franck Ribéry cried and the fans sang my name , and it was incredibly moving . I still remember I made up my mind at the last moment to go to the AGM in November 2013 where I had to resign as president . If I hadn ‘ t gone I definitely wouldn ‘ t have returned , because the support from our fans back then gave me incredible strength . As soon as I stuck my head out of the car there was applause from all sides . That blew me away . The fans didn ‘ t desert me and when I went on stage to speak it all came flooding out . I was happy in spite of everything . Let ‘ s run through a few more photos . In 1986 , you with sunglasses and a portable radio at your ear on the heart-stopping final matchday , waiting for the result from Bremen … ( chuckles ) Portable radios have long since ceased to exist . 74,000 people hung around with us in the Olympiastadion after the final whistle . No-one went home . No- one ! Long minutes filled with tension , I never experienced anything like it again . It was crazy . As was the last day of the season in 2000 , when Unterhaching beat Leverkusen and we were champions . Or Hamburg in 2001 : I already had my phone in my hand to cancel our title celebrations . You , in 1999 , after the Champions League final in Barcelona , slumped on the massage bench in the dressing room . Was that absolute desolation ? Yes , but before that , outside in the stadium , you have to keep your composure . It takes an unimaginable amount of strength ; you actually just want to hide . I was drenched with sweat when I came into the dressing room . Then I lay down on the massage bench , absolutely done in . I couldn ‘ t move for a few minutes . But you have to get up at some point . I nearly died when we lost the finale dahoam too . But big clubs draw strength from experiences like that . Both times we went on to win the trophy . And I ‘ m still proud today of how our fans behaved in 1999 . Sir Alex Ferguson said to me at the time : “ Uli , you know the Germans aren ‘ t particularly popular in England , but your supporters were absolutely incredible after a defeat like that . Our fans would have smashed up the town .“ The image of FC Bayern was greatly enhanced that night . Ferguson referred to that later on when he sent me a handwritten letter while I was in prison . Another photo , you in the St . Pauli saviour shirt . Solidarity was important to you . Is that a legacy and an obligation for the future ? I ‘ ve suggested we continue to organise a benefit match like that every year . When you ‘ re at the top , you have to think about those at the bottom . Your guiding principles were always sporting quality , economic soundness , and above all community values . It ‘ s a crucial unique selling point that makes our brand so popular . It ‘ s no coincidence that we have so many
The biggest void : After losing the final in Barcelona in 1999 , Hoeneß lay flat on the massage bench in the dressing room for several minutes . But Bayern got up again . And the fans ' behaviour still makes him proud today .
FC Bayern Magazine 57