As of: March 9, 2024, 6:00 a.m
By: Vinzent Tschirpke
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In the series “The Red (R)evolution” the tz compares yesterday and today at FC Bayern.
In part 2, Heiner Jüngling and Ayush Singh explain.
Munich - FC Bayern, forever number one… Every football fan knows the red club anthem.
But how did the Munich team actually get to the top?
How did this development go and what are the differences to the current generation of players and fans?
In the series
The
Red
(R)evolution
, the tz looks for clues and compares yesterday and today at the largest club in the world.
FC Bayern Munich |
|
|---|---|
Founding: |
February 27, 1900 |
Members: |
330,000 |
Achievements (selection): |
33 x German champions, 20 x DFB Cup winners, 6 x European Cup/Champions League winners |
Bayern fans explain their love for the club in an interview
Part 2 today is about the supporters of FC Bayern: “Without its fans, nothing would work at FC Bayern, we give everything for them every day,” said Herbert Hainer.
From the president's point of view, they are the “essence of football”.
With more than 330,000 club members, FC Bayern Munich is the largest sports club in the world.
But where does this love for the German record champions come from, which unites FCB fans from all over the world?
tz
spoke
to Heiner Jüngling, FC Bayern's number one member, and Ayush Singh from Jaipur, far away in India.
Impressive choreo by the Bayern fans with the “Münchner Kindl” before the Champions League game against Lazio.
© IMAGO/Michaela Merk
That’s what Heiner Jüngling says
If you want to understand the history of FC Bayern, you have to talk to him: Heiner Jüngling is the number 1 member of the record champions; the Munich native joined the club 84 years ago.
Member number one of FC Bayern Munich: Heiner Jüngling.
© IMAGO/Lackovic
Mr. Jüngling, why did you become a member of FC Bayern?
Membership was a stroke of luck for me.
My father played in the third team of the old men at FC Bayern at the time, so when I was born in 1939 he brought me straight into the FCB as a member - before any uncle signed me up to Sixty (laughs).
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When did you become a fan?
Through my father I had a pair of red shorts and a jersey.
That was enough to warm up to Bayern.
But there were other worries at this time; it wasn't until I was five or six years old that my father came back from the war.
For a long time I didn't know that I was a member.
How come?
As a child you don't get that kind of thing, and my father's company paid the contribution.
When he started playing there again, I wanted to play football too.
When I was eight years old I got a leather ball for Christmas.
That's how I first started playing football.
When did you first watch an FC Bayern game?
I went there for the first time in 1946, when Bayern played in the Sixties Stadium.
I was little, so I took a stool from my grandma.
After all, there was only standing room, which had little to do with the current condition and luxury in the Allianz Arena.
How were football and FC Bayern perceived back then?
Sixty was better known back then, Bavaria was basically a nobody.
In my environment, people were more focused on art, music, literature or other sports anyway.
Football was frowned upon.
When I had my ball, I still ran to Kleinhesseloher See in the English Garden and got the boys to play soccer.
So we started playing football for days - and even when I didn't feel like it anymore, they said: "You can't go now, then we won't have the ball anymore!"
Did you have a favorite player back then?
When we played on the street, I always said: Today I am Bertl or Streitle (Herbert Moll & Jakob Streitle).
I also liked Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller.
They were my favorite players back then, they made FC Bayern great.
How did membership change your fan life?
In the 60s I went to the stadium here and there.
When I was 30, I realized that I had been a member of FC Bayern for 30 years.
Suddenly I received an invitation to the “Circle of the Old” – and I had just gotten married!
So I got a certificate for my anniversary.
Did this bring you closer to FC Bayern?
After I became an honorary member, I was officially invited by FC Bayern.
As a fan, I suddenly became part of the family's inner circle.
And I met great people.
Who do you mean?
Over the years, Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoeneß in particular have shaped FC Bayern, as has my time as an honorary member.
Once the then President Beckenbauer came to our Seehaus, there were almost 200 people there.
Beckenbauer came without a note or program, made a few jokes and talked to everyone.
It was a very relaxed atmosphere.
He even took his time with the security men.
He didn't care what position someone had.
And Hoeness?
After being a member for 60 years, I was given my own table that was reserved for me.
Then the move to the Allianz Arena followed, I sat there among numerous club legends and there were no fixed seats.
At some point Uli Hoeneß came to us and asked how we liked it.
I told him that everything was fine, but that I had to keep changing my place - and on the same day Uli made sure that I always had a permanent place as an honorary member ever since.
This is what Ayush Singh says
What makes a fan cheer for his club from 6,000 kilometers away?
“That you watch every game and are there with all your heart,” says Ayush Singh (24) from Jaipur, India.
The software developer has been a supporter of FC Bayern since 2013.
During the interview he sits in front of the webcam in the jersey of star striker Harry Kane.
Mr. Singh, how and why did you become a fan of FC Bayern?
I watched the 2013 Champions League final in a hostel because the owner put it on the TV in the common room.
In India everything is dominated by cricket, so you don't get a lot of football as a kid.
Something clicked in this game, I just thought: “Wow, what a mood!” I immediately fell in love with football, with Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben.
The result certainly helped.
Since then I started to be interested in Bavaria.
At first it was difficult to watch the games: Bundesliga games have only been broadcast in India since 2015.
You could follow the Champions League beforehand - and of course the World Cup, where Manuel Neuer was so outstanding.
How does fan life influence your everyday life?
It was difficult during school because my parents didn't allow me to watch the games so late at night.
So I secretly sneaked out of my room to watch games that kicked off at 1:30 a.m.
Things got easier in college, and since then I've been doing my work in a way that allows me to watch the games without being disturbed.
If necessary, I have to work before or after.
And sleep?
It's tiring sometimes, that's true (laughs).
But I'm used to it and have been basing everything on FC Bayern's kick-off times for ten years, so it works for me.
I haven't missed a game yet this season!
You share the last name with Sarpreet Singh, a former Bayern player...
...with Indian roots!
Although he plays for New Zealand, his parents come from Punjab, a state in India.
He's a big star here.
Singh is one of the few Indian players to have played for a top club in Europe.
Other fans support their club every week at the stadium. What does Mia san mia mean to you, 7000 kilometers away?
It is a big dream of mine to move to Germany at some point and watch a game at the Allianz Arena.
As a software developer, I have a good chance of finding a job in Munich.
Then I will be there for every game.
Until then, Mia san mia for me means watching every game and being there with all your heart.
I am a loyal fan and I infect other people in India with my fire.
So I do my best to support the team - even if I'm almost nine hours away by plane.
What else do you do?
I collect FC Bayern jerseys.
Unfortunately, they are very rare and difficult to get in India, especially in contrast to Premier League and La Liga clubs.
I now have over ten jerseys and there are more and more.
I even contact shops so that they can get originals and not rely on the fakes.
Should the club have a greater presence abroad to reach more fans?
In recent years there have been FC Bayern training camps where many Indian talents have applied.
Even Oliver Kahn came for this!
When such a legend comes to India, it is a strong sign.
But what attracts the most attention is the club's World Squad (Bayern Munich's world squad).
How come?
He gives young players the chance to be part of FC Bayern and thereby makes them famous.
An example is Subho Paul!
He was part of Bayern Munich's U-19 world squad.
He now plays in Delhi and has become a big Indian star.
(
Interview: Vinzent Tschirpke)