Tom Bischof has now become an important option in midfield for FC Bayern. The 21-year-old impresses with his game intelligence and has established himself in the German record champion’s star-studded roster. However, even as a young boy, it was a big dream for the youngster to one day wear the Munich jersey.
In an interview with WELT am Sonntag, the German national team player offered a personal glimpse into his childhood. He spoke about an extraordinary painting that has been with him for many years.
Particularly noteworthy: Bischof’s connection to FC Bayern apparently began even before he was born. His family made sure early on that the future pro would become part of the large Bayern fan community.
Bischof: “I love FC Bayern”
“As a child, I woke up every day under a picture of FC Bayern Munich in my bedroom. It’s huge—about three meters tall,” Bischof said.
The painting was a gift from his father, who is himself a passionate fan of the German record champions. “My father is a huge Bayern fan and gave it to me when I started school. One of his friends is a painter and painted me wearing the jersey of my hometown club, TSV Amorbach: I’m doing a bicycle kick, with the FC Bayern logo above me.”
To this day, the artwork holds a special place in the midfielder’s life. “The painting still hangs in my old childhood bedroom.”
Another anecdote illustrates just how strong the passion for Bayern is in his family. “Thanks to my family, I was even a member of a Bayern Munich fan club— [lacht]—before I was born,” Bischof revealed.
Schweinsteiger, Ribéry, and Robben were his idols
With his move to FC Bayern, Bischof finally fulfilled a long-cherished dream. “I’m truly living my dream. Even as a child, I knew that my dream and my goal were to become a professional soccer player,” the 21-year-old explained.
He made it clear that his enthusiasm for the record-breaking champions remains as strong as ever. “I love FC Bayern. That was true even when I was a kid—and it still is.”
The midfielder was particularly captivated by the great Bayern stars of years past. “I must have had about 30 jerseys: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben. I also thought Thiago was fantastic—an incredible player.”
His enthusiasm went so far that he regularly hoped to find new fan merchandise on family trips. “On every vacation, I begged my parents to buy me a new jersey,” Bischof recalled.
Today, the former Bayern fan takes the field himself for the club he loves and plays alongside some of the best soccer players in the world.
His comments show that the move to Munich was far more than just the next step in Bischof’s career. For the 21-year-old, it marks the fulfillment of a dream that has been with him since early childhood.