FC Bayern's Christmas gifts: Visiting fans, having fun

Pep Guardiola this Sunday afternoon might have learned much more about Bavarian habits than in two and half years before. After the head coach of the German Champion arrived in the Bavarian town of Vilsbiburg, he had to show some special skills that had nothing to do with finding the best first eleven or deciding tactics. 

   When the 44-year-old Spaniard went to visit the "Bayern Bazis Vilsbiburg" fan club, the motto was: Man against man with a beer mug. Competitors had to hold the approximately 1.5-kilogram beer mug with their outstretched arm as long as they could. 

   Guardiola wasn't applying for special Bavarian citizenship but was one of 27 ambassadors of Bayern Munich following a unique custom when it comes to meeting members (270,329) and registered fans (314,919) of the world's biggest football club. For over 30 years Bayern Munich stars and officials have been visiting one of their 4,030 fan clubs (10 in China) by attending their Christmas parties by travelling hundreds of miles and showing they value the very special relationship between stars and fans. 

   Millions of football fans around the globe follow their favorite club and often treat it like a family member. Bayern Munich's relationship with its supporters is a very special one, no other football club visits its fans like they do.           

   This Sunday was the special fan-day. You could call it the happy end of playing the lottery, at least the lucky ones see it as this. Many apply but only around 27 fan clubs are lucky enough to win a visit of a world star like Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, Jerome Boateng, Manuel Neuer, Arturo Vidal, David Alaba, Douglas Costa or even star coach Pep Guardiola. 

   While the schedule being so tight for football clubs having to play games nearly every three days, the effort of Bayern Munich's mission is enormous. For weeks travelling has to be planned and program details have to be arranged to make everybody happy. When Bayern's football stars meet their fans, it is not only to say hello as they spend an entire afternoon with their fans. Some are travelling the whole day posing for photos, playing games and chatting for hours with 80 to 1,000 fans depending on the size of the fan club.  

   Boateng for instance flew to Berlin to visit the "The flying stars" fans in Potsdam, Thomas Mueller went to "Hauzenberger Bayern-Power" and played a tournament involving a typical Bavaria card game called "Shaafs Kopf", which can be literally translated as "sheep's head". Midfielder Xabi Alonso showed his special skills as a craftsman while "working" in a competition hammering nails into a piece of wood and midfielder Xavier Martinez was surprised by a sword swallower. 

   When Mueller entered the hall, a brass band played and fans fired off a gun salute in an "Oktoberfest" atmosphere. Others squad members and staff traveled to Italy and far away spots in eastern and northern Germany, some going even as far afield as Hamburg. 

   As many football clubs consider fans to be a vital part of the community, after all they are responsible for the special atmosphere in the arenas and they buy shirts, Bayern Munich employs up to 10 community officers. But the club relies on events that go beyond normal fan games, player of the month voting and kids clubs which can all be found on their homepage. To talk to them face to face seems to be Bayern Munich's way of expressing their club's special relationship with its fans. Fan club members don't have to be members of the club itself.

   As football delivers a special kind of emotion to people, Bayern Munich is adding another one which is rarely seen anywhere else.  

   Director of the fan department in Munich is the former Bayern keeper (1982 - 1994) Raimond Aumann (52), six times German champion and 1990 world champion. "For us it's our duty to do visits like the ones today. I remember that we went on the visits in as far back as when I was playing. It is our way to say thank you to our fans that travel so much to support us. At least once a year it is up to us to go along and see them in their hometowns," said Aumann. 

   But sometime the fans get a little too boisterous. Guardiola for instance was overwhelmed by Vilsbiburg's Bayern fans and their welcome. He did a good job holding the beer mug but when he was presented with a new blank contract extension, the Spaniard refused to sign it saying, "I love this club and its fans, I love the city of Munich, but as we said, we will come together after the last game of the first half of the season and discuss what is the best solution for the club and me." 

   One thing is certain, if Guardiola does leave Bayern Munich, according to rumors he might join Manchester City, and its fans next summer when his current contract expires, the Spaniard will surely never forget the special relationship the club has with its fans and he won't forget the special Bavarian custom of holding beer mugs outstretched.  Endi