FC Bayern München: 125 Years Mia San Mia by Christian Eichler – Review
As a football fan, and an appreciator of clubs that have contributed greatly to the true history of the game – whether through success, memorable moments, tradition or nostalgia – I’ve always had a love for books that teach you something new about a club. Especially one like the mighty Bayern Munich, whose modern dominance is well documented, but whose deeper roots and evolution often need to be discovered.
That’s why FC Bayern München: 125 Years Mia San Mia grabbed me immediately. Even before opening the cover, you know it’s a serious read – thick, weighty, and spanning 272 pages. This is a celebration of 125 years of Bayern’s backstory, and you can tell just by holding the book that it’s been crafted for football enthusiasts who want to soak up more than just the scores.
“Page after page of success”
Firstly, without diluting what Christian Eichler has created, it’s a perfect coffee table book. It’s glossy, visual, and impossible not to leaf through again and again. In the very first pages, you’re welcomed by a parade of iconic images: goals, trophies, celebrations, and era-defining moments. It’s a sea of red-and-white glory, but beyond the surface, there’s structure too – with chapters focusing on passion, tradition, future, home, and responsibility.
There are plenty of standout moments as you turn each page. Seeing Franz Beckenbauer hoist trophies from decades past, reading about the 1967 Cup Winners’ Cup triumph over Rangers, and spotting Franz Roth pictured in bed gazing at the trophy after their win in Nuremberg – it’s all there. And it’s captured beautifully.
The book’s coverage of Bayern’s stadium history was especially enlightening. I hadn’t realised they were ground tenants for most of their early years, only owning their first true home with the spectacular Allianz Arena in 2005. There’s trivia and depth too – like how the club came to wear red shorts – and quirky additions, such as the page on musical records released by the team and its players. It even had me heading to YouTube to dig further into some of those tunes (not that I’d recommend everyone do that, mind!).
“An education and a celebration”
While the book isn’t text-heavy on every page, that’s no criticism – I don’t think it’s designed to be. Around 80% of it delivers context and knowledge in easily absorbed, shorter pieces of writing. But as you travel further back in time, the prose digs deeper. It paints vivid pictures of different eras and gives you more to chew on, without ever feeling dense or textbook-like.
It strikes a clever balance between imagery and words – ideal for casual browsing, but also rewarding if you want to pause and read more thoroughly. As a piece of design and curation, it flows exceptionally well.
Ultimately, FC Bayern München: 125 Years Mia San Mia is for anyone with a passion for football heritage. It’s a gift for collectors, a nod to football romantics, and of course, a must-have for Bayern fans.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Bayern ever since meeting a group of their fans in Spain after their heart-breaking loss to Manchester United in 1999. Their grace in defeat, their warmth and humour stuck with me – and this book reflects exactly that character.
It’s honest, passionate, and full of history. A club worth admiring – and a book worth owning.
‘FC Bayern München: 125 Years Mia San Mia by Christian Eichler is out now from Prestel Publishing, RRP: £45.00
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
