At FC Bayern, a generational shift has long been underway behind the scenes. New faces are set to take on more responsibility in the club’s key decision-making bodies in the future.
FC Bayern is currently setting an important course for the future. While Uli Hoeneß, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Herbert Hainer continue to play a decisive role in shaping the club, the Munich-based club is apparently preparing, step by step, for a generational shift in its leadership.
As the Münchner Abendzeitungreports, this is not just about individual personnel changes, but about a fundamentally broader restructuring. Hoeneß will turn 75 in early January, Rummenigge just celebrated his 71st birthday, and Hainer will turn 73 next summer. The trio’s influence remains significant, but at the same time, the next generation is to be more closely involved starting now.
A first step has already been taken with Alexander Sixt. The 46-year-old entrepreneur assumed the chairmanship of the Administrative Advisory Board this year and was simultaneously appointed to the Supervisory Board. President Hainer praised his business background and network and announced “fresh impetus.”
Max Viessmann’s role could become even more significant. The 37-year-old is already a member of the Administrative Advisory Board and, according to information from the AZ, is set to become the fourth shareholder alongside Adidas, Allianz, and Audi. Hoeneß, in particular, is said to be actively advocating for Viessmann’s entry into the company.
Should the deal go through, Viessmann would also join the Supervisory Board. The board would then grow to ten members. In addition, it is planned that he would also serve on the important Executive Committee.
Bayern’s executive board is set to operate more independently in the future
At the same time, the club’s operational leadership has also been solidified. Max Eberl and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen have extended their contracts through 2029, followed shortly thereafter by sporting director Christoph Freund. Marketing director Rouven Kasper also enjoys a high standing within the organization.
Rummenigge explicitly advocates for giving the executive board more autonomy. “While the supervisory board is the club’s highest governing body, it is not responsible for day-to-day operations,” he explained in an interview with the AZ.
The 71-year-old added: “There is a management plan drawn up by the Executive Board that specifies exactly when the Executive Board must inform the Supervisory Board and when it must seek its approval. Expenditures exceeding 50 million euros must be approved—that’s fine. But we have to be careful not to shift too many decisions from the Executive Board to the Supervisory Board. We have good people on the Executive Board. And you have to nurture and take care of good people so they stay for a long time.”
Recently, there had been internal discussions regarding the Presidential Committee’s authority in connection with Eberl’s contract extension. Rummenigge therefore clarified: “The Presidential Committee can make a recommendation—but the decision is made by the full Supervisory Board.”
Responsibilities are also being redistributed at the Campus. Freund and Campus Director Jochen Sauer are set to assume full responsibility for the youth development program going forward. “The Campus must play an even greater role for FC Bayern in the future,” Rummenigge explained. It had already become apparent recently that Freund would be given significantly more authority in the youth development program.
In the long term, former Bayern stars could also step into key leadership roles. According to the AZ, Thomas Müller and Bastian Schweinsteiger are considered potential candidates for the presidency. Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer are also generally seen as having the potential for future careers in management.
The generational shift at FC Bayern is therefore unlikely to happen overnight. However, the groundwork for this is already being laid—with younger entrepreneurs on the supervisory board, a strengthened executive board, and former club greats who could also take on more important roles in the future.