BERLIN - Bayern Munich's 125th anniversary on Feb 27 brought an unexpected workload for the club's marketing team as a surge of demand for specially designed shirts led to delayed deliveries.
The club, which boasts 400,000 members, apologized for the delays and cited an overwhelming influx of tens of thousands of orders.
Some fans of the 2020 treble winners may have to wait longer, as Bayern Munich faces a crucial all-German duel against reigning national champion Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League last-16 round on Wednesday.
The top-selling shirt is the replica of Franz Beckenbauer's iconic No 5, celebrating the three-time Champions League winner and two-time world champion. Bayern announced plans to honor Beckenbauer publicly, with the international stage against Leverkusen providing the perfect setting.
A gigantic shirt bearing Beckenbauer's number will be displayed under the roof of Munich's arena. The enormous 15.7 by 10.54-meter display is made of 32 non-flammable fiberglass pieces.
Club president Herbert Hainer said that after a member vote, Beckenbauer's No. 5 would be retired permanently to express "the club's deep attachment" following his death in January 2024 at age 78.
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Beckenbauer played a pivotal role in Bayern's rise to European football dominance, helping secure three consecutive Champions League titles in 1974, 1975, and 1976, along with nine national championships.
He is one of only three men in history to win the World Cup as both a player (1974) and a coach (1990), joining Brazil's Mario Zagallo and current France coach Didier Deschamps.
Brazilian legend Pele, who died in 2022, once called Beckenbauer "one of the best I ever saw play". Beckenbauer, in turn, described Pele as "the most wonderful player and human I met". The two played together for one season at the New York Cosmos in 1977.
Over his career, Beckenbauer made 582 appearances for Bayern Munich, evolving from a stylish team captain to an inspirational manager and statesman-like administrator.
He also helped Germany secure the 2006 FIFA World Cup, serving as a prominent ambassador and influential figure in the successful bid.
The 1972 European Champion won the Ballon d'Or twice and achieved top-flight success as both a player and a coach.
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His later years were marked by tragedy, including the death of his son Stephan in 2015 at age 46 and the strain of corruption allegations related to the 2006 World Cup bid. However, all investigations ended with an acquittal.
