Stadium:Allianz Arena (formerly Grünwalder Stadion and Olympiastadion München)
Capacity:75,204
1900-1901
1901-1902
1902-1906
1906-1908
1908-1919
1919-1920
1920-1921
1921-1924
1924-1931
1931-1935
1935-1936
1936-1938
1945-1955
1955-1966
1966-1967
1967-1978
1978-1997
1997-2002
2002-2017
2017-2025
2025-Present
2025
FC Bayern München Crest History
Founded on 27 February 1900, FC Bayern München initially used a simple shield displaying the intertwined initials "FCB", reflecting the elegant monogram style common among German sporting clubs at the turn of the twentieth century. During the club's formative years, several variations of these initials appeared on flags and circular emblems as Bayern experimented with different visual identities while establishing itself within Munich football.
Between 1902 and 1919, Bayern adopted a series of monogram-based badges in blue and later red, continually refining the intertwined FCB initials. These designs remained minimalist and focused entirely on the club's name, with no reference yet to Bavarian symbolism or regional colours.
A major milestone arrived in 1919, when Bayern introduced its first crest to prominently feature the name "Bayern". Shortly afterwards, in 1920, the club incorporated the blue-and-white lozenges (Wecken) from the coat of arms of the Free State of Bavaria into its badge for the first time. This established the visual connection between the club and its Bavarian identity that has remained central ever since.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the crest underwent numerous stylistic refinements. Circular badges displaying "FC Bayern" evolved into more elaborate emblems featuring the Bavarian lozenges enclosed within decorative borders, while the club's traditional red, white and blue colour scheme gradually became firmly established.
Following the Second World War, Bayern simplified its visual identity. Between 1945 and 1966, the badge adopted cleaner circular designs that placed increasing emphasis on the Bavarian lozenges. In 1966, after the club's promotion to the Bundesliga and the beginning of its rise to national prominence, the crest assumed a form closely resembling the modern badge, with "FC Bayern München e.V." surrounding the blue-and-white diamonds.
Further refinements followed during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, as colours became brighter, typography was modernised and proportions were adjusted to improve visibility across television broadcasts, merchandise and international branding. While the details evolved, the fundamental composition, a circular badge featuring the Bavarian lozenges surrounded by the club's name—remained unchanged.
In 2002, Bayern introduced a cleaner and more vibrant version of the crest with a brighter red outer ring and a stronger blue border. Minor adjustments in 2017 refined the typography, spacing and colours for digital applications while preserving the club's instantly recognisable identity.
In 2025, the club unveiled a subtle refinement of the modern crest, improving the balance of the typography and colours while maintaining the classic circular design. During the same year, Bayern also introduced a special commemorative anniversary crest celebrating 125 years of the club's history, featuring decorative gold elements and the inscription "125 Jahre". The commemorative badge was used only for anniversary celebrations, while the standard crest remained the club's official emblem.
The current crest represents more than a century of gradual evolution rather than radical redesign. Featuring the iconic blue-and-white Bavarian lozenges, the bold red circular border and the FC Bayern München inscription, it successfully combines regional identity with one of the most recognisable and respected brands in world football.
FC Bayern München Club History
Founded on 27 February 1900, FC Bayern München was established by eleven members who broke away from MTV München after disagreements over the future of football within the club. Led by Franz John, Bayern quickly established itself as one of Munich's leading football clubs, winning its first South German Championship in 1910 and steadily building a reputation for attractive football and progressive management.
The club won its first German Championship in 1932, defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0 in the final. Despite this early national success, Bayern struggled during the Nazi era, partly because of the persecution of Jewish club officials, including long-serving president Kurt Landauer, who played a crucial role in the club's early development. Landauer later returned after the Second World War and helped rebuild the club, becoming one of the most influential figures in Bayern's history.
Although one of Germany's traditional clubs, Bayern was surprisingly not selected as one of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963. The club instead spent the first two seasons in the Regionalliga Süd before earning promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965. This proved to be the beginning of an extraordinary era. Guided by coach Zlatko Čajkovski, Bayern introduced a generation of legendary players including Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Sepp Maier, who would transform both the club and German football.
The 1970s established Bayern as one of Europe's greatest clubs. The team won three consecutive European Cups between 1974 and 1976, becoming only the third club in history to achieve the feat. During the same period, Bayern also claimed multiple Bundesliga titles and DFB-Pokal trophies, cementing its status as Germany's dominant football club.
Success continued throughout the following decades under a succession of outstanding players and managers. Stars such as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthäus, Stefan Effenberg, Oliver Kahn, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer and Robert Lewandowski all helped shape Bayern's modern identity. The club won the UEFA Champions League in 2001, 2013 and 2020, while also capturing multiple international honours, including two FIFA Club World Cups.
The 2012–13 season under Jupp Heynckes marked one of the greatest campaigns in football history, as Bayern became the first German club to win the continental treble by lifting the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League in the same season. In 2020, under Hansi Flick, the club repeated the feat by completing a historic sextuple, winning every major competition available in a single year.
Domestically, Bayern has enjoyed an unprecedented period of dominance, winning eleven consecutive Bundesliga titles between 2013 and 2023 and extending its record as Germany's most successful club. Although Bayer Leverkusen ended that streak in 2024, Bayern reclaimed the Bundesliga championship in 2025, reinforcing its position at the summit of German football.
The club's principal rivalry is with Borussia Dortmund in the modern Der Klassiker, while historic rivalries with TSV 1860 München in the Munich Derby and 1. FC Nürnberg in the Bavarian Derby remain deeply significant. As Germany's most decorated football club and one of the most successful teams in world football, Bayern continues to set the standard for excellence both domestically and internationally.
