February 2025 BAYERN GAME
MY GOAL IS TO BECOME A LEGEND
HERE TOO
Aleksandar Pavlović mething has developed there over the decades that you don‘ t find elsewhere in this form. The success story most certainly began with the way FC Bayern established itself very quickly after promotion in 1965, both domestically and internationally. Back then, it was possible to hold on to this core of young players, many of them from Munich and Bavaria, this group around Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller. Then came Uli Hoeneß, Paul Breitner, and we mustn‘ t forget“ Katsche” Schwarzenbeck or“ Bulle” Roth. They all became icons. Something grew back then that is still the foundation of FC Bayern today. AP: And of course, this unconditional striving for success that emerged with this generation is still an essential and driving part of the club‘ s DNA today. As a player, it‘ s conveyed to you from day one. In my eyes, the biggest secret of FC Bayern‘ s success is the huge sense of togetherness, this family atmosphere at the club, together with the fans. You can just feel it, on the pitch as well. We have this“ Mia san mia” inside us. What does“ Mia san mia“ mean to you? AP: For me,“ Mia san mia“ means being a family, standing together in good times and bad. That‘ s what we already live by here in the youth setup, that we always stick together. TM: For me, this“ Mia san mia“ is an archetypal Bavarian expression, and I would explain it as follows: It describes this innate belief in one‘ s own strength, in a grown togetherness and this deep, inner conviction that you can do anything together. At FC Bayern, this philosophy is certainly a cornerstone of success, established by the generation headed by Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß, Gerd Müller and Sepp Maier. You were both always fans of FC Bayern from a young age. What are your memories, what for you are the stories for the ages? AP: My first great memory is the 2013 treble, I‘ ll never forget it. I watched it sitting in front of the TV at the age of nine. It‘ s still also my favourite jersey from the 125 years. But in general, I‘ ve always followed everything that‘ s happened at this club, especially on the pitch. When you‘ re a ball boy in the Allianz Arena, you naturally dream of one day being out there on the pitch. I think the construction of this stadium was an important milestone.
TM: I‘ m familiar with just about all the milestones, so I‘ d say: how Bayern beat the“ Sechziger“( TSV 1860 München) to signing Gerd Müller, or how Uli Hoeneß arranged Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’ s move to Inter Milan – that was an important boost for the finances at the time. The“ Watschn“( Beckenbauer being slapped in the face as a 13 year old) is of course also historic. You can see time and again that what happens in the blink of an eye can have a huge impact. That slap in the face was certainly the decisive blow – in the truest sense of the word( grins).
Shortly before the duo get changed again, as Pavlović energetically combs the nostalgic look out of his hair( he couldn‘ t really warm to it), Müller gate-crashes a photo shoot with Leroy Sané. The two stand there together for a moment; one in the style of the 1900s, the other wearing the latest FCB collection. A meeting of tradition and contemporary design. All in the spirit of FC Bayern.
FC Bayern Magazine 49