The most successful team in German football history, Bayern Munich has seen heaps of great players walk through the Bavarians’ door. In this post, we’ll highlight the team’s best eleven players to-date.
The Dutch footballer has spent a bright nine seasons with Bayern Munich, capping off with an unforgettable 89-minute goal against Borussia Dortmund to win the Champions League in 2012. The attacking midfielder has scored over 100 goals for Bayern, powering Bayern to six Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cups and the Champions League treble.
Oliver Kahn
An 8-time German Champion along with six DFB cups, a UEFA Cup, and Champions League trophy to his name, 6’2 Oliver Kahn or ‘Der Titan’ holds the record for club appearances at 632. He remains the only goalkeeper to have ever won the Golden Ball at the FIFA World Cup.
Philipp Lahm
The right-back played 17 seasons for the Bavaria side, captaining the side to its first Treble in 2012 with the Champions League, German League title, and DFB Cup under his belt. Known as a talented and judicious fullback — Pep Guardiola called him “perhaps the most intelligent player I have ever trained in my career.”
Franz Beckenbauer
Nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser,’ Franz Beckenbauer played the vital role of Sweeper at Bayern Munich where he twice earned European Player of the Year. He also captained the side to its first league victory in the 1968-69 season, finishing his career a four-time German Cup Winner and three-time Champions Club’s Winner. As coach of the Bavarians’, he won one more league title and the UEFA Cup.
Klaus Augenthaler
The German defender won an incredible seven titles at Bayern where he spent 15 seasons and played over 400 games. He also won the domestic up three times and finished as European Cup Runner-ups in 1982 and 1987. Later in his career, the red-and-white man transformed into a sweeper.
Paul Breitner
An attacking left-back, the speedster Paul Breitner won five German league titles, two league cups, and the 1974 European Cup. He is remembered as a controversial player, given his short stint at Real Madrid before returning to Bayern as captain.
Lothar Matthäus
Recognized as a complete midfield player and considered the best in the world in his prime, the German Lothar Matthäus scored 100 goals in 410 appearances for the club. Although he left the club for a few seasons to play at Inter Milan, he returned to play another 8 years in Bavaria, winning for more Bundesliga titles, two DFB Cups, and 1996’s UEFA Cup.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
A complete midfielder, Bastian Schweinsteiger orchestrated the Munich midfield for 17 years. He won eight German league titles, seven German cups, and completed the treble with a 2013 Champions League trophy. Known as the ‘Fußballgott,’ he scored 45 goals in 342 domestic appearances with the Bavarian side.
Frank Ribery
The Frenchman won the 2007-2008 German footballer of the Year in his first year with the club. He has since made over 250 appearances and scored 80 domestic league goals along with over 180 assists. The left winder has won the Champions League along with 8 League titles and 5 German Cups.
Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski is Bayern Munich’s top non-German scorer with over 300 goals, reaching the mark faster than any other foreigner. He once scored a Guinness World Record five goals in nine minutes in a 2015/16 match against Wolfsburg. He’s also second on Bayern’s list of top scorers of all time, behind no other than Gerd Müller.
Lewy scored more goals (344) than both Messi (329) and Ronaldo (323) during his eight years at Bayern Munich. Most pundits think he should’ve beaten Messi to the 2021 Ballon d’Or. The Polish striker signed for Barcelona during the summer of 2022.
Gerd Müller
Known as ‘Der Bomber,’ the German striker scored a record-setting 40 goals and led the league in scoring seven times. At 365 goals, he still runs the Bundesliga for most finishes of all -time. In his 15 years with the club, he won the league and cup four times each, along with one European Championship in 1972.
