OMG — Oh My God
You can't be serious
The New OMG Moments (2020–2024)
~€60 million burned on coaches: Since 2021, FC Bayern have spent more on coaching fees and severance than many Bundesliga clubs spend on their entire squad. ~€25 million in transfer fees for Nagelsmann (plus severance), Tuchel's salary and severance, ~€10.5 million for Kompany's release clause. The figure symbolises an era of instability on the touchline.
Kahn and Salihamidžić — sacked on Championship Day: On the day Thomas Tuchel leads Bayern to the 2023 league title, CEO Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić are dismissed. Kahn learns of his sacking while celebrations are still unfolding on the pitch. "FC Hollywood" in its purest form — the Titan, who once led Bayern to the Treble from between the posts, is shown the door like a common employee.
The Lewandowski war of words: In summer 2022, Robert Lewandowski forces his departure to Barcelona. Weeks of public mudslinging follow: "My story at Bayern is over," he declares. Bayern initially refuse to let him leave. Lewandowski skips pre-season training. In the end, Barcelona pay ~€45 million — for a player who had just scored 41 Bundesliga goals.
Sadio Mané — €32 million wasted: The Senegalese world footballer arrives from Liverpool in summer 2022, supposed to replace Lewandowski. After a disappointing season in which he fails to settle either on or off the pitch, he leaves after just one year for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia — for an estimated €20 million. Bayern lose ~€12 million net, plus a year of squad planning.
Embarrassments? That happens at other Bundesliga clubs, surely not at the flagship FCB. Nonsense!
A model of active rehabilitation. "FC Bayern is a criminal club," say the Bayern haters. And it’s true — though not in the way they mean. Bayern have been significantly led by personnel with criminal records. A model of active rehabilitation, then. "Boss" Karl-Heinz Rummenigge accepted a penalty order in 2013 for smuggling a luxury watch worth €100,000 through customs.
Under German law, anyone sentenced to more than 90 daily fines or more than three months’ imprisonment counts as having a criminal record. That applied to Uli Hoeneß, then chairman of the FC Bayern supervisory board. The deputy chairman at the start of 2018/19, Prof. Rupert Stadler, was under investigation for the Audi diesel scandal.
Fear of Max Merkel — the end of Gerd Müller and Wilhelm Neudecker: In 1979, there was constant friction between coach Pal Csernai and superstar Gerd Müller. The feud reportedly began with Müller’s substitution against Eintracht Frankfurt. Müller fled to the USA. Csernai had only got the job because his predecessor, the feared Max Merkel, was vetoed by the players themselves.
The Heynckes promise, coaching flops and mediocrity: In the early 1990s, the record champions endured turbulent times. Numerous coaches, including Erich Ribbeck and Søren Lerby, tried with little success to revitalise the squad. The period after Jupp Heynckes’ dismissal in October 1991 was an era of failure and broken promises.
How to sack the Sir — embarrassing and touching: In the contest for Bayern’s worst coach of the last 30 years, three names always surface: Jürgen Klinsmann, Søren Lerby and Erich Ribbeck. How Bayern sacked Ribbeck was both embarrassing and touching. "Sir" Erich succeeded the misfire Lerby in March 1992. He was himself replaced before the ink was dry.
Hoeneß on his own fans — mega-embarrassing: Even Bayern officials are not immune to crass missteps. At the 2007 annual general meeting, Uli Hoeneß suddenly erupted, haranguing the club’s own supporters. Among other things, he accused them of being responsible for the frequently poor atmosphere in the stadium.
The Kaiser, Bayern, the World Cup and the deals with the sheikhs: Dodgy deals are not uncommon in Bavaria, and FC Bayern are no strangers either. The scandal surrounding the 2006 World Cup bid could yet drag Bayern into trouble — involving suspicious payments and bizarre friendlies in Malta, Thailand and the Gulf.
And another dodgy deal — this time with Leo Kirch: And this one is proven. Bayern were evidently willing to be bought in the past. According to manager magazin research, on December 9, 1999, Bayern manager Hoeneß, board member Karl Hopfner and ex-president Fritz Scherer struck a secret deal with the Kirch media empire.
