The Beginnings
FC Bayern Munich was founded by members of a Munich gymnastics club (MTV 1879). When a group of members of MTV 1879 decided on February 27, 1900 that the footballers of the club would not be allowed to join the German Football Association (DFB), eleven members of the football division left the organisation and founded FC Bayern Munich on the same evening. This was the start of a unique success story. The first national title was earned in 1932, when the club won the German championship by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0 in the final.
The Legendary Axis
Although FC Bayern Munich was not part of the Bundesliga when it was founded in 1963, the club was promoted to the league two years later, fielding a team with young talents like Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Sepp Maier — who would later be collectively referred to as "the axis."
In their first Bundesliga season FC Bayern Munich finished third and also won the German Cup in 1966. This qualified them for the following year's European Cup Winners Cup, which they won in a dramatic final against the Scottish club Rangers, when Franz "the Bull" Roth scored the decider in a 1–0 extra time victory.
The Golden Years
A very successful period started for the club began when Udo Lattek took charge as the FC Bayern coach in 1970. After winning the cup in his first season he led Bayern to their third German championship. The deciding match in the 1971–72 season against Schalke 04 was the first match in the new Olympic Stadium, and was also the first live-televised match in Bundesliga history. FC Bayern also won the next two championships, but the zenith was their triumph in the European Cup final against Atlético Madrid, which Bayern won 4–0. One year later the team defended their European title by defeating Leeds United in the final when Roth and Müller secured victory with late goals. A year later AS Saint-Étienne were defeated by another Roth goal and FC Bayern became the third club to win the trophy in three consecutive years. The final trophy won by FC Bayern in this era was the Intercontinental Cup, in which they defeated Brazilian club Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte.
Champions League Victory with Ottmar Hitzfeld
From 1998 to 2004 FC Bayern was coached by Ottmar Hitzfeld. In Hitzfeld's first season, FC Bayern won the Bundesliga championship and came close to winning the Champions League, losing 2–1 to Manchester United in injury time after leading for most of the match. The 1999–2000 season resulted in FC Bayern winning their third league and cup double. A third consecutive Bundesliga title followed in 2001, won in a finish on the final day of the league season. Days later, FC Bayern won the Champions League for the fourth time after a 25 year gap, defeating Valencia CF on penalties. The 2001–02 season began with a win in the International Cup. A season later FC Bayern won their fourth double, leading the league by a record margin.
Successes
German Champion:
1932, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010
German Cup Winner:
1957, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010
German Supercup Winner:
1983, 1987, 1990, 2010
German Ligapokal Winner:
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004
European Cup / Champions League Winner:
1974, 1975, 1976, 2001
UEFA Cup Winner:
1996