Decades of brilliance

Bayern Munich stand among the elite clubs in world football, boasting a trophy-laden history that has left a lasting mark on the sport. With six European titles and countless domestic triumphs, the Bavarian side have long set the standard in Germany and beyond. With statistics sourced from Transfermarkt, here is a look at the ultimate starting XI drawn from Bayern's pride and decorated past.

Sepp Maier - GK

A one-club legend and one of the finest goalkeepers of his era, Maier was the backbone of Bayern's success in the 1970s. Known for his agility, consistency and charisma, he won three European Cups and four Bundesliga titles with the club.

Franz Beckenbauer - CB

Also known as 'Der Kaiser,' Beckenbauer is a Bayern Munich icon, highly respected throughout European football for the elegance with which he played the game. Beckenbauer was a true libero who understood multiple aspects of the game, standing out as a well-rounded player and later becoming an elite coach.

Klaus Augenthaler - CB

Another iconic defender, Augenthaler, remained a loyal representative of the club throughout his entire professional career. The former German international was known for his thunderous long-range shots and leadership. He captained the side through much of the 1980s and lifted seven Bundesliga titles from 1976 to 1991.

Paul Breitner - LB

As a left-back, Breitner was ahead of his time, combining defensive grit with attacking flair and tactical intelligence. Equally comfortable driving forward or shutting down opponents, he brought style and substance to the role. His performances were key to Bayern's success in the early 1970s, including their 1974 European Cup win.

Uli Hoeneß - RW

Before becoming a driving force in the boardroom, Hoeneß was a lethal winger on the pitch. Quick, intelligent and unselfish, he was vital in Bayern's European dominance in the mid-70s and won multiple Bundesliga titles before retiring early due to injury.

Lothar Matthäus - CM

Matthäus is a German football icon. He achieved great success during his two stints at the German club, from 1984 to 1988 and 1992 to 2000. During his time at Munich, he scored 100 goals and handed 51 assists in 410 official appearances. Furthermore, Matthäus was awarded the 1990 Ballon d'Or.

Bastian Schweinsteiger - CM

A symbol of Bayern's modern era, Schweinsteiger evolved from a wide midfielder into a world-class central presence. He was instrumental in Bayern's 2013 treble-winning season and lifted eight Bundesliga titles during his time at the club, scoring 68 goals and providing 98 assists in 500 official appearances.

Franck Ribéry - LW

The French winger, in tandem with Arjen Robben in a partnership nicknamed 'Robbery,' tormented full-backs during Bayern's dominance during the early 2010s. Ribéry played a vital role in Bayern’s 2013 treble, earning nine Bundesliga titles in a glittering 12-year spell.

Robert Lewandowski - ST

Lewandowski has forged a remarkable career at some of Europe's biggest clubs, but it was at Bayern where the Polish hitman enjoyed his greatest success, scoring 344 times in 375 games. He broke numerous records, including the Bundesliga single-season scoring record (41 in 2020–2021), and was pivotal in Bayern’s 2020 treble-winning campaign.

Hansi Flick - Manager

Although his time in Munich was short, Hansi Flick put together the greatest Bayern Munich team in history, competing against Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi. In just two years, he won the Bundesliga twice, the DFB-Pokal, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Honourable mentions

Bayern Munich's history has been littered with world-class talents throughout the ages, making it especially difficult to narrow it down to a starting XI. Nevertheless, we didn't want to leave out any honourable mentions, so here they are.

Manuel Neuer - GK

Neuer was one of the first 'sweeper keepers' to perfect the art of possession as the 11th man. The German keeper left his childhood club FC Schalke 04 for Bayern Munich in 2011, starting a remarkable career with the Bundesliga giants.

Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck - CB

A no-nonsense centre-back, Schwarzenbeck was the silent enforcer alongside Franz Beckenbauer. Reliable and tough, he played over 500 games for Bayern and famously scored the last-minute equaliser in the 1974 European Cup final.

David Alaba - LB

Thanks to his incredible versatility, Alaba was a mainstay for Bayern Munich for over a decade, winning eight Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokals, one Champions League and a Club World Cup.

Stefan Effenberg - CM

Effenberg was another class midfielder for Bayern Munich who, much like Matthäus, enjoyed two successful stints at the Bavarian club. He scored 48 goals and handed 54 assists in 234 official appearances for Bayern.

Michael Ballack - CM

Though his time at Bayern was brief, Ballack made a lasting impact with his leadership and goals from midfield. He won a league and cup double in each of his three seasons and was widely regarded as the most complete German player of his generation.

Franz Roth - CAM

Roth caused a sensation during his first season at Bayern Munich, following his decisive goal against Rangers FC during the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup final. His great vision on the pitch and passing abilities turned him into a headache for opponents. He is considered to be a member of Bayern's golden generation, led by Beckenbauer and Müller.

Arjen Robben - RW

Arguably one of the most iconic wingers of the 21st century, Robben enjoyed success in four of Europe's biggest leagues. During his time at Bayern Munich, Robben scored 144 goals and handed 100 assists in 309 games for the Bavarian side.

Thomas Müller - CF

A product of Bayern's youth academy, Thomas Müller became a cornerstone of the club with his unique style and uncanny knack for finding space. His intelligence, assists and clutch goals saw him become a key figure in multiple title-winning sides and play a starring role in the 2013 and 2020 trebles.