At FC Bayern, victories are taken for granted – and the German record champions‘ internal bonus model is correspondingly unusual. Instead of classic point or victory bonuses, the club relies on a complex system of commitment, title and performance bonuses. In the worst-case scenario, the stars could even face a significant loss of salary
As reported by Sport BILD, FC Bayern does not pay any points or win bonuses. Successes in the Bundesliga are considered mandatory and are compensated with the fixed salary. Instead, individual players have so-called performance bonuses anchored in their contracts
These are staggered according to the number of competitive matches played, with some professionals receiving bonuses of around €100,000 after five appearances, followed by further payments after ten, 15 or more games. Other contracts provide for intervals of seven games. In this way, players outside the absolute top earners in particular can earn up to an additional €500,000 per season
Titles bring extra money
In addition to the stake bonuses, individual title bonuses are also on offer in the event of success. According to the report, these are negotiated personally and vary depending on the contract. Between 100,000 and 500,000 euros are said to be possible for winning the German championship. Similar sums are also on the cards for triumphing in the Champions League – in many cases also around half a million euros
However, reaching the Champions League itself is a prerequisite at FC Bayern. Qualifying for the Champions League is already covered by the basic salary and the annual performance bonuses and is not rewarded separately
Missing out on the Champions League would have drastic consequences
Particularly explosive: Should FC Bayern miss out on qualifying for the Champions League, some top earners could face severe cuts. According to information from Sport BILD, certain contracts provide for a salary reduction in the following season in this case – in some cases by up to 30 percent
Although this scenario is considered extremely unlikely in Munich, it is clearly regulated internally in the contract. The financial pressure is intended to ensure that the minimum sporting targets are achieved year after year
Employees also benefit from success
It is not only the players who benefit from titles. The club’s other employees are also included in the bonus system. The exact bonuses are set out in individual target agreements. Historically, the club has been quite generous in this respect: for the treble in 2013, all employees received a lump sum of two and a half months‘ salary as a bonus
FC Bayern’s bonus model clearly shows that success is mandatory – and is only rewarded additionally if it goes beyond what is expected. However, if you fail to meet the minimum targets, it can be expensive for even the biggest stars.