Fun Facts — Knowledge for Blowhards
FC Bayern are German record champions. That is a no-brainer. But here come fun facts of a very special kind — from Mia san mia's origins to Lewandowski's 5 goals in 9 minutes.
For Blowhards
FC Bayern are German record champions. That is a no-brainer. But here come fun facts of a very special kind.
Why Mia san mia, Actually?
The phrase is not an FC Bayern invention but a saying from Austria — used by soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
In standard German, Mia san mia translates roughly as We are who we are. Historians have shown it was already used in the 19th century. It came to Bavaria from Austria, and to FCB when the club became record champions in 1987. Hans Pflügler, Hansi Dorfner and Ludwig Kögl sang it after victories — legend has it they danced on the tables.
First Bundesliga Victory
Matchday 2 of 1965/66: Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 — their first Bundesliga win.
Rainer Ohlhauser (24') and Werner Nafziger (87') scored the club's first Bundesliga goals. Team: Maier, Kupferschmidt, Olk, Drescher, Beckenbauer, Borutta, Müller, Koulmann, Nafziger, Ohlhauser, Brenninger. Coach: Čajkovski.
Player Brawls Are Not Exactly Rare
From Lizarazu slapping Matthäus to Ribéry punching Robben in the Champions League semi-final.
1999/00: Lizarazu slapped Matthäus in training. 1990s: Ziege and Bernardo separated in training. 1980s: Pfaff smacked goalkeeping rival Aumann during press-ups.
Most serious: Champions League semi-final vs Real Madrid, April 2012. Ribéry gave Robben a black eye in the dressing room after a free-kick row on the pitch. Fine: €50,000.
The 2013/14 Season — Records Galore
Champions on matchday 27, 53 matches unbeaten — and not a single defeat in the calendar year 2013.
Under Pep Guardiola, FCB clinched the earliest championship in Bundesliga history. The 53-match unbeaten run began under Heynckes in November 2012, broken only in April 2014 by a 0-1 at Augsburg. Unique to this day: no defeat in the entire calendar year 2013.
Number Two
For decades, FC Bayern were only the number two in Munich — behind local rivals 1860.
The Lions were founding members of the Bundesliga and became the city's first Bundesliga champions in FCB's debut season 1965/66.
For Braggadocios
More knowledge to show off at parties.
King Otto in Bavaria
Otto Rehhagel: 820 Bundesliga matches as coach — sacked by Bayern three days before a European final.
Rehhagel arrived in 1995 from Werder Bremen after 14 years. On 28 April 1996, he was sacked three days before the UEFA Cup final first leg. Klinsmann is supposed to have been the decisive figure in my sacking.
The Bayern Buddhas and Klinsmann
Buddha figures on the rooftop terrace to create positive energy flow — mockery, derision and the Catholic Church were not amused.
Klinsmann caused a stir with an unusual redecoration of Bayern's HQ. Lifeless figures in gold, reclining and serene. The Catholic Church struck a diplomatic note: Every coach has his own ways.
Club houses are not exactly hotbeds of intellectualism. But one thing was clear: Beckenbauer wouldn't have needed Buddhas.
After two months, the Buddhas were dismantled. Zé Roberto: The Buddha figures can't help me.
I already have my faith.
Max Gablonsky — Bayern's First International
His debut in 1910, his only goal credited 100 years later — after a note found in his estate.
Four caps by the end of 1911. His goal in a 6-2 win over Switzerland (26 March 1911) was not officially recognised until 2011. The catalyst: a note in Gablonsky's estate with the annotation 6th goal by me. The chronicles had erroneously credited Gottfried Fuchs, one of only two Jewish internationals.
Bottom of the Table After Matchday One
In 1974/75, FC Bayern were bottom of the Bundesliga — after a 0-6 at Kickers Offenbach.
It remains the heaviest defeat by a reigning champion. Bayern have occupied a relegation place twice: in 1966/67 (matchday 8) and 1977/78 (matchday 16).
For Connoisseurs
Facts for true connoisseurs — obscure, surprising and guaranteed to impress.
The Most Prolific Own-Goal Scorers
Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck and Augenthaler: four own goals each — from the golden years.
The most prolific own-goal scorers date from the 1970s and 1980s. Niklas Süle, after three own goals in 2017/18, was already on the scent.
On the Kaiser's Trail
Beckenbauer paid 350,000 DM of his own transfer fee to escape to New York in 1977 — the tax authorities were closing in.
Cosmos would not pay 1.5 million DM. But the Kaiser had to go: the tax authorities were on his trail over undeclared bonuses. He paid the difference himself. Later, he settled with the tax office in traditional Bavarian amigo fashion.
Lewandowski's Dream Day Against Wolfsburg
Five goals in 8 minutes and 59 seconds — four Bundesliga records broken in one evening.
22 September 2015, matchday 6. Bayern trailed Wolfsburg 0-1 at half-time. Guardiola brought on Lewandowski. Goal 51', 52', 55' (fastest hat-trick: 3 minutes 22 seconds), 57', 60'. A Douglas Costa cross hammered under the crossbar, then a spectacular overhead kick for 5-1.
He became the 13th player in Bundesliga history to score five in a single match.
- Time for 5 goals
- 8 min 59 sec
- Fastest hat-trick
- 3 min 22 sec
- Records broken
- 4 in one match
Lewandowski's Finest Hour at Red Star
Four goals in 15 minutes — enough for the Champions League record.
24 November 2019. Between the 53rd and 67th minutes, Lewandowski extended Bayern's lead at Red Star Belgrade from 0-1 to 0-5. Penalty, two right-footed shots, a header. He overtook Luiz Adriano's 17-minute record and became Bayern's all-time Champions League top scorer (46 goals), surpassing Thomas Müller (44).
The Phantom Goal of Thomas Helmer
23 April 1994: the ball never crossed the line — but the referee gave the goal, and it changed history.
A corner swung in by Witeczek. Helmer scooped the ball past the post with his heel. I must have looked pretty daft.
But his teammates rushed over — referee Osmers had given the goal after consulting assistant Jablonski.
At half-time, Helmer saw the replay: The thing wasn't in — it had gone a hair's breadth past the post. Rummenigge in the stands could see clearly: We're not going to get the ball in the goal.
Bayern won. Nürnberg protested — the first Bundesliga match to be annulled.
The replay: Bayern 5-0 Nürnberg. The championship was sealed on the final matchday, one point ahead of Kaiserslautern. Nürnberg were relegated.
Had they not protested, the Phantom Goal would have stood.
