FC Bayern is once again among the contenders for the Champions League title this season. Following strong performances under Vincent Kompany, many fans are dreaming of another triumph in Europe’s premier club competition. But Honorary President Uli Hoeneß warns against measuring the success of Germany’s record champion solely by titles. The 74-year-old is particularly annoyed by calls for the club to win the treble.
In an interview with *WELT am Sonntag*, Hoeneß made it clear that, for him, the number of trophies won alone does not determine a successful season. Rather, one must also take into account the economic and structural conditions under which the Munich club operates.
In this context, the longtime Bayern executive pointed to the unique challenges of top-level international soccer. Unlike some European rivals, FC Bayern must combine its sporting success with a sustainable economic strategy.
Hoeneß annoyed by calls for a treble
Hoeneß was particularly clear when asked about a possible Champions League triumph. In his view, it is wrong to measure a team’s success solely by winning major titles.
“You shouldn’t reduce everything to winning a trophy. So much can happen—suspensions, injuries. When I hear people say, ‘The treble is the only goal,’ it annoys me.”
With this, Hoeneß is speaking out against the unrealistic expectations that regularly arise at FC Bayern in light of the club’s sporting successes.
While Munich is traditionally among the title contenders, in the Champions League in particular, individual game situations, injuries, or suspensions can have a decisive impact on the outcome of a competition.
For Hoeneß, therefore, it’s not just the result that matters, but also the way a club operates successfully over the long term.
“We have a different philosophy…”
In this context, the honorary president clearly distinguished FC Bayern from its financially powerful competitors in European soccer. “We have a different philosophy than clubs where money is no object—clubs financed by hedge funds or entire countries.”
As evidence of the Munich club’s successful development, Hoeneß cited in particular the enormous growth in membership numbers. “We now have more than 450,000 members. When I joined FC Bayern in 1979, there were 8,000.”
For the 74-year-old, this development is at least as remarkable as winning sports titles. He is particularly impressed by the fact that demand for membership continues to grow despite the stadium’s limited capacity.
“A third of our members have never been able to watch one of our games at the stadium because it’s always sold out, and yet our membership continues to grow unstoppably. That’s an enormous success.”
For Hoeneß, one thing is clear: FC Bayern should continue to compete for the biggest titles. In his view, however, the club’s progress shouldn’t be measured solely by whether it wins the Champions League trophy—or even the treble—at the end of the season.