Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich. The most successful team in Germany. 33 Bundesliga titles, 20 German Cups, 6 Champions League titles, 2 UEFA Super Cups and 2 FIFA Club World Cups. These guys know what they’re doing.

So, let’s #GetTheBadgeIn and take a proper look at one of the most recognisable crests in world football — and the rich story behind it.

Beneath the polished squad and professional infrastructure lies something older and more grounded — something that’s visible in the club’s badge itself.

At the heart of the crest is the blue-and-white diamond (lozenge) pattern, lifted directly from the Bavarian state flag. It’s the emblem of the House of Wittelsbach, Bavaria’s ruling dynasty for over 700 years. In the 19th century, these blue-and-white diamonds became the official symbol of the Kingdom of Bavaria, and have since been carried through into modern Bavarian statehood — and into the shirt of Germany’s most successful football club.

Bavaria was never just another German state. When the German nation was formed in 1871, Bavaria only agreed to join under special conditions. These “reserved rights” meant Bavaria kept its own army, which remained under local control in peacetime; its own state railway system; its own postal and telegraph services; and, for a time, even its own diplomatic presence abroad. In short, Bavaria retained a level of autonomy within the country that reflected its historical weight, religious independence, and regional pride. Political movements for full Bavarian independence still exist and routinely poll well (especially when times are bad).

One of the region’s most famous features are its architecture — most famously Neuschwanstein Castle. Built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, it was designed as a personal retreat and a tribute to the composer Richard Wagner. Although it was never fully completed due to Ludwig’s mysterious death in 1886, its striking silhouette has become an icon of romantic German architecture. In fact, Neuschwanstein Castle inspired the design of Disney’s famous Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty castles — a real-life fairytale towering over the Bavarian Alps.

Bavaria itself has undergone a transformation just as dramatic. From medieval principalities and baroque courts to a region defined by innovation, it has become a major industrial and economic hub — particularly in Munich, home to engineering firms, biotech labs, and world-class universities. BMW, Siemens and Allianz SE amongst others call the place home - and Allianz are obviously also the long term stadium sponsor.

Culturally Bavaria and Munich are distinct in their own right too – such ‘German’ things as Lederhosen, Weißwurst sausage and the Oktoberfest are all from this region. Historically they retained their Catholic identity while the rest of Germany dabbled with those heretic protestant reformer folks. They consider themselves as distinctly distinct from the rest of Germany – and fiercely proud of it. Anyone that has been in Munich on gameday can attest to the energy and passion in the city as the beerhalls fill with fans before they move onto the games – usually with flags flying and in good chorus.

The city's role in West Germany’s post-war economic boom mirrored the rise of FC Bayern, whose golden era in the 1970s made them a fixture in European football. Founded in 1900, Bayern Munich began as a breakaway group of footballers and slowly grew into a club that would come to dominate both domestically and abroad. The crest has evolved over time, but its core has remained the same — a modern ring of red and white around that traditional Bavarian centre. The club’s colours bordering the flag of Bavaeria: Bayern is proud of its roots, but outward-facing in its ambitions.

Importantly, Bayern has also remained majority fan-owned, operating under Germany’s 50+1 rule. This structure allows it to retain its identity in an increasingly commercial world, while also funding world-class infrastructure and youth development.

So, while others chase glamour, major foreign investors and global branding, Bayern’s badge stands firm — a symbol of tradition, pride, and relentless excellence built on the foundations of Bavaria itself.