Bayern Munich have paid more attention to our country than any footballing superpower. A look back at all their memorable visits to the country

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2008



2009



2010



THE DREAM THAT NEVER WAS



Bayern Munich In India

Indian Icon Bhaichung Bhutia Bids His Farewell



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With Bayern Munich expecting to make their presence felt in this country for an astounding fifth time, more attention than any superpower club has ever paid us, we reminisce about the numerous visits by FC Hollywood, as it is affectionately nicknamed, to India. They first made their presence felt when they donated a percentage of the gate receipts in the game against Hansa Rostock to the victims of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. And then...Not since the New York Cosmos visit had Kolkata geared up to receive so great a name in footballing lore when Bayern Munich came visiting for the first time in India. Visiting Kolkata with their second team along with coach Herman Garland and his assistant, the legendary Gerd Mueller, they had come to play in the 2005 IFA Shield. Getting a direct entry into the semi-finals, they beat Mohammedan Sporting 2-0, but not without some difficulty, with their goalkeeper Gopal Das being a rock between the posts. Up against surprise finalists EverReady SA, the contest was lopsided, with the Bavarians running out 5-1 winners, becoming the second European team to lift the fourth oldest footballing trophy in the world.And they didn't just restrict themselves to on-pitch activities, generously donating a sum when they went to visit Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity.It was Kolkata's biggest spectacle since, well, Bayern Munich came last time. They took on oneof the biggest clubs in the country when they faced Mohun Bagan for Oliver Kahn's farewell match. Not only was the legendary keeper present, but first team stars like Mark van Bommel, Ze Roberto, Claudio Pizarro and their upcoming stars like Breno Borges, Christian Lell, Jose Ernesto Sosa and Toni Kroos. There was hysteria in the city over the fact that a true legend of the modern era would be playing his farewell there. And the turnout didn't disappoint, with a near full house (estimates of at least 100000) to watch the match. The great man himself admitted how happy he was to have played his final match here. The whole country was proud of itself.And Bayern Munich's second team calling again, including in its ranks a still unknown rapidly improving Thomas Mueller. They played three friendlies in West Bengal. One at the Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat against East Bengal which they won 1-0. Surprisingly, East Bengal had fielded what was largely their reserve side for the game. The second was an unofficial 'return leg' in Kolkata at the East Bengal Ground, where they won 5-1, Sunil Chhetri netting for the red-gold brigade. Denis Yilmaz netted the winner in the first game and bagged a hat-trick in the second. The last one was at the Kanchenjungha Stadium in Siliguri against Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad XI which they dominated to win 6-0, Mueller and Holger Badstuber both netting once.Bayern Munich legends lined up an 'All-Star' game with East Bengal legends, whom theycrushed 10-3. The Bayern team comprised of club legends and World Cup winners like Paulo Sergio (who would go on to grab 4 goals in the game), Andreas Brehme and their captain for the day Paul Breitner. Also Bundesliga legends Markus Munich (who grabbed a hat-trick), Wolfgang Dremmler and Harald Cerney were present and on song as East Bengal legends' fitter opponents toyed with them for most of the game, easing up a bit and letting EB grab three on the counter through Kabir Bose, Amit Das and Sanjoy Majhi, while profilgate finishing denied them much more. However, the game was not a humiliation by any means, with the proceeds from the tickets meant to go to charity.In 2008, during the hectic time around Oliver Kahn's farewell, Bayern Munich made another announcement which could have revolutionized Indian football as we knew it. They planned to open an academy in Burdwan, providing the latest in footballing infrastructure, and leaving the grounds open for any interested youngsters. But, like a large number of things, government apathy caused the scrapping of the plan. Bayern officials had surveyed the land 5 or 6 times and then had written to the state government of West Bengal requesting permission to build on the land. An MoU had been signed and Karl Heinz-Rummenigge himself had come to scout the land, but sadly, the government didn't even respond. In aexclusive, we found the following out...Yet another chapter will be writ into the growing history of the Bavarians in India come this January. Let us, for our sakes, hope it won't be the last.