GOAL selects the greatest players produced at one of the world's most famous talent factories
Bayern Munich are the dominant club in Germany and a true European giant.
They are the most successful club in Germany, winning a record 32 Bundesliga titles and 20 DFB-Pokal trophies. Such is their dominance that they've won 10 Bundesliga titles in a row since 2013.
Their exploits do not stop with Germany. They were crowned champions of Europe six times (three times in the Champions League era), won the Europa League (UEFA Cup back then) and the Cup Winners' Cup (now defunct) once each.
This success has been built upon a strong academy that has churned out plenty of talented players over the years.
The club was established in 1900 and two years later, the academy and the junior teams were put together. The ability of the academy to attract and nurture top-class players has been a cornerstone of Bayern's success over the years.
Indeed, some big names have graduated from the Bayern academy, as GOAL outlines below…
GettyFranz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer was probably the greatest player to have graduated from the academy of Bayern Munich, and is considered among the best footballers of all time.
Nicknamed "Der Kaiser" (the emperor) for his leadership skills and elegant style of play, the 1972 Ballon d'Or winner started out as a midfielder before transitioning to defence. In fact, he played as a libero (sweeper) most of the time and is credited with defining that role in the '60s and '70s.
Having spent five years in Bayern's youth teams, Beckenbauer made his professional debut for the in 1964 and spent 13 long years at the club, making more than 580 appearances. He helped the club win four Bundesliga titles and three back-to-back European Cups from 1974 to 1976.
Of course, his exploits with Germany is legendary. He led the to the World Cup title in 1974, after helping them win the European Championship two years earlier. He made more than 100 appearances for them.
The two-time World Cup winner built on his legacy even after his playing career. He coached Germany to the World Cup title in 1990 – his official title was Team Chef because of a lack of qualifications – becoming only the second man after Mario Zagallo to win the World Cup as a player and a coach.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesSepp Maier
Nicknamed (the cat from Anzing) because of his fast reflexes and incredible agility, Sepp Maier is one of the greatest goalkeepers Germany has ever produced. A one club man, Maier joined the Bayern Munich academy in 1959 and made his senior debut in 1962. He would go on to make 700 appearances for Bayern, a club record, in a distinguished career that spanned 18 years.
He won four league titles and three European Cups apart from a host of other silverware with Bayern. Maier was an integral part of the German side that won the European Championship in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974.
A three-time German Footballer of the Year who was famous for wearing very long shorts, Maier spent a long time coaching at Bayern after he retired, also acting as a coach for the national team until an argument with then coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2004.
GettyHans-Georg Schwarzenbeck
Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck (wearing No. 4 in the picture) was a world class centre-back, and another who spent his entire career at Bayern after joining the academy as a 14-year-old in 1962.
He made his senior debut in 1966 and went on to amass more than 400 appearances for the club, winning the Bundesliga six times and the European Cup thrice. He notably scored the equaliser in the European Cup final of 1974 against Atletico Madrid with a long-range screamer. Bayern would then win the replay 4-0.
He was also part of the Germany team that won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup.
Getty ImagesPaul Breitner
A marauding left-back who transformed into one of the best midfielders in the world, Paul Breitner was a maverick in the 1970s and 80s. He joined Bayern Munich only in 1970, at the age of 19, but had to wait till 1971 to establish himself in the first team, as he had to undergo compulsory military service.
But once he did, there was no turning back. With a distinctive hairstyle and a beard to match, Breitner quickly became a star player. He had two stints with Bayern, from 1970-74 and from 1978-83. In between he played three seasons at Real Madrid (1974-77) and one at Eintracht Braunschweig (1977-78).
He helped Bayern win five league titles and a European Cup. With Germany, he won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup. He scored the equaliser for Germany in the 1974 World Cup final against Netherlands before Gerd Muller nabbed the winner.