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