Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Bayern's Year in Facts and Figures

The year 2013 goes down as truly historic for Bayern, as the Reds collected an incredible five trophies and set a host of new records. fcbayern.de reviews the facts and figures from the most successful 12 months in the club’s history.

0 - The number of times Bayern lost in the Bundesliga in the calendar year - a feat that has never been achieved before!

1 - Bayern’s position in the standings on 27 of the 34 Bundesliga matchdays in 2013. FCB were only not top for the first seven games of the current campaign.

3 - Defeats in all competitions throughout the year, meaning Munich were undefeated in 95 percent of their matches.

5 - The number of trophies collected by Bayern in 2013: the Champions League, Bundesliga, DFB Cup, UEFA Super Cup and most recently the FIFA Club World Cup. The tally is bettered only by Barcelona, who won six trophies in 2009 under Pep Guardiola.

10 - Bayern’s record-breaking winning run in the Champions League up to and including the victory away to CSKA Moscow in November. The previous record of nine straight wins in Europe’s elite club competition was set by Barcelona in 2002/03.

14 - The number of consecutive victories posted by Bayern at the start of the second half of the season in 2012/13. That broke two records at once, as no Bundesliga side had ever managed 14 straight victories before!

16 - The number of Bundesliga matches without defeat presided over by Pep Guardiola – also a new record! The previous record of 14 was set by Kaiserslautern’s Karl-Heinz Feldkamp in 1978/79.

17 - Bayern won all 17 of their home league fixtures in the calendar year, matching their own record from 1972 and 2005.

18 - The number of goals conceded by Bayern in the 2012/13 Bundesliga season, the best defensive performance in the history of the league!

19 - The number of times FCB have been top of Bundesliga at the midpoint of the season. In 16 of the previous 18 cases the championship shield ended up in Munich.

20 - Franck Ribéry’s assists in 2013, making the Frenchman the best provider at the club. He was followed by Arjen Robben (18), Thomas Müller and Philipp Lahm (17 each).

25 - The winning margin in points at the end of the 2012/13 campaign between champions Bayern and runners-up Borussia Dortmund, the biggest-ever gap between two adjacent teams in the final standings.

26 - The club’s top marksman Thomas Müller’s goalscoring total in 2013! He was followed by Mario Mandzukic (23) and Arjen Robben (22).

28 - The number of matches FCB required before sealing the league title in April away to Frankfurt. The Bundesliga has never before been won at such an early stage!

41 - Bayern’s current unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, comfortably a new record! The best previous performance of 36 games undefeated was set by Hamburg from January 1982 until January 1983.

43 - Thomas Müller’s scorer points total for the year (26 goals, 17 assists). He was followed by Arjen Robben (40) and Franck Ribéry (38).

44 - Bayern’s points total from 16 Bundesliga fixtures in 2013/14 - a new league record!

50 - Games won by Lahm, Schweinsteiger & Co. in 2013, meaning FCB won just short of nine of every 10 matches they played.

53 - The number of consecutive league matches in which FCB have scored at least once, beating the club’s own record of 36 from May 1973 until May 1974.

56 - Number of matches played by FCB in 2013 in a total of six competitions: the Bundesliga, Champions League, DFB Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and DFL Super Cup.

80 - Or to be more precise: +80. Bayern’s goal difference at the end of the 2012/13 Bundesliga campaign, easily a new league record!

93 - Total number of Bundesliga points taken by Bayern from 33 matches in the calendar year, a new record! The Reds only dropped a total of six points in 2013. The previous record of 87 points from 34 matches in 2005 was also set by the Reds.

159 - Total goals scored by FCB in 2013, an average of 2.8 per match.

207 - The number of countries in which the Bundesliga meeting between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern on 23 November was broadcast live, a new record for the German top flight.

250 - Number of accredited media representatives at the unveiling of Pep Guardiola as new Bayern coach on 24 June at the Allianz Arena, making the event the biggest press conference in the club’s history. Two days later, 180 reporters watched the new boss supervise his first training session.

2,018,500 - The total attendance at the Allianz Arena for the 29 home games (including the Audi Cup and the Uli Hoeneß Cup) in the year 2013. The average crowd was 69,603 with only two matches not entirely sold out.

Monday, December 30, 2013

The Historic Year 2013


The Historic Year 2013
Das Rekordjahr 2013

Bundesliga, Champions League, DFB Pokal, Super Cup

Friday, December 27, 2013

Jan Kirchhoff joins Shalke on Loan

FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 have agreed a one-and-a-half year loan deal for defender Jan Kirchhoff, who will now play for the Gelsenkirchen club until 30 June 2015. Bayern have retained a recall option for the player after the loan agreement expires. 

“I think this is a good decision for all three parties,” commented FC Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “Jan will certainly receive the playing time with Schalke that hasn’t proved possible in Munich up to now. We wish him all the very best and hope he continues to make good progress there, so that he might potentially return to FC Bayern in 2015.“

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Happy Holliday, Bayern Fans !


The holidays are here, and those who celebrate Christmas are looking forward to the joy and sparkle of the festive season. At the end of a historic year with five trophy triumphs, FC Bayern wishes all its members, fans and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

“Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo!“
(Dante, Rafinha)

“Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année!“
(Daniel van Buyten, Franck Ribéry)

“Glædelig jul og godt nytår!”
(Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg)

“¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!”
(Pep Guardiola, Javi Martínez, Claudio Pizarro, Thiago, Domenec Torrent)

“Sretan Božić i Sretna Nova Godina!”
(Mario Mandzukic)

“Schöni Wiehnacht und es guets Neus!“
(Xherdan Shaqiri)

“Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!“
(Diego Contento)

“Prettige Kerstdagen en enn Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!“
(Arjen Robben)

“A guad's Nei's, liebe Fans!”
(Philipp Lahm, Thomas Müller, Bastian Schweinsteiger)

“Frohe Weihnachten und alles Gute für 2014!“
(David Alaba, Holger Badstuber, Jérôme Boateng, Hermann Gerland, Mario Götze, Jan Kirchhoff, Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Lukas Raeder, Tom Starke, Patrick Weihrauch, Mitchell Weiser)

Monday, December 23, 2013

Great impressions and fond memories

When the Bayern stars made their way to Munich airport after the home meeting with Hamburg just over a week ago, none of them really knew what to expect in Morocco. It would definitely be warmer in North Africa, and the people would be lively and emotional. Nevertheless, it was difficult to say whether FCB would prove a hit in Agadir and Marrakech. But eight days and one trophy later, any doubts have been put to rest. “We immediately sensed great hospitality, love and warmth, the like of which I’ve rarely encountered,” summarised board director for sport Matthias Sammer.

Naturally, Munich made the trip first and foremost with the aim of collecting a fifth trophy of the year. However, there was still enough free time to escape the punishing footballing schedule and learn a little about the host nation. The most striking observation was the extreme contrasts, with humble circumstances on one side and glittering skyscrapers on the other, the snow-covered Atlas mountains compared with desert dunes stretching as far as the eye could see.

“It was a very good trip,” commented Thomas Müller, especially taken with the locals’ obvious joie de vivre: “The people here are extremely positive.” The newly-crowned Club World Cup winners were particularly surprised by the Moroccans’ knowledge and awareness of Germany’s biggest club. “They all knew everything and that was astounding,” said Müller, before adding with a cheeky grin: “We were even recognised by women, which doesn’t happen very often in Germany.”

It was more difficult to recognise Dante and Rafinha, who spent an afternoon exploring the famous souks of Marrakech and the sights of the city, for which they donned typical local clothing. Manuel Neuer also took a good hard look at the local culture, as he watched acrobats, parades, and snake charmers in close up.

On the day of the final the men from Munich were introduced to King Mohammed VI, on the throne since 1999. The reigning monarch attended the final and personally congratulated Bayern on their victory. “That definitely left a lasting impression,” noted Müller. But of course FCB made an impression of their own, on the world and especially in Morocco. Said Müller: “The tournament has huge significance for the global image of Bayern Munich!“

Uniquely successful

“My players knew they’d have to give everything to win this tournament,” advised Guardiola, who previously won the Club World Cup as a coach with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011. “Five trophies in a year is a magnificent success for Bayern. I’m delighted for the club and very proud of the players and the fans,” declared the Spaniard, explicitly praising the 2,000 travelling fans who gave the eventual champions such tremendous support.

“Being able to add another trophy, especially this one, at the end of the year is amazing,” summarised Lahm. “You don’t contest the Club World Cup every year. We’ve won the title, our fifth of the year, and basically that’s impossible to beat.“ Thomas Müller was just as enthusiastic about a historic 12 month period: “It’s a fairytale ending, the well-earned reward for the excellent year we’ve had. It's nearly impossible to play at the level we’ve done in this calendar year.“

Deserved break

In his speech to the banquet Rummenigge heaped praise on Guardiola and Jupp Heynckes, the two head coaches who were the architects of the marquee triumphs. “We’ve been incredibly lucky to have two coaches who’ve not only done a fantastic job but are also fantastic people,” said the chairman. Heynckes guided FCB to the prestigious treble of the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League last season, and Guardiola’s first six months have yielded the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

“We’ve achieved everything we set out to achieve this year and that’s fantastic,” summarised keeper Manuel Neuer, describing the final official overseas trip of the year as “a terrific experience.” The players, coaching staff and management at the club can now set off into what is a truly well-deserved holiday break in upbeat and satisfied mood. “I’m certainly pleased we go on vacation now,” acknowledged Lahm, looking forward to “a few relaxing days. I think we’ve all deserved it.“

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Reaction to Guangzhou vs Bayern

Pep Guardiola: “Congratulations to my team. They deserve their place in the final. We took it very seriously against a team with quick wide men. We had most of the possession, allowing us to control the game and create plenty of chances. But for all that it wasn’t easy. Marcello Lippi is one of the coaching greats.“

Marcello Lippi (Guangzhou Evergrande coach): “The difference between the strongest team in the world and the rest was obvious today. Bayern Munich always dominate their matches. We had nothing to offer in response to their superiority today. We were clearly inferior. But I can’t criticise my team for a decent performance. Appearing in the semi-finals at the Club World Cup is unimaginable after only a year and a half’s work.”