Top 10 greatest Bayern Munich legends of all time ranked

Top 10 greatest Bayern Munich legends of all time ranked

Babu Tendu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM

Bayern Munich's new era under Pep Guardiola started with a flurry of victories in the opening stages of this season's Bundesliga, raising the question of how this current crop of Euro conquering stars compares to the long list of Bayern Munich legends who have blessed the club over its 113-year history. Come with us as we learn more.

Bayern Munich legends of all time ranked
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Source: UGC

This article discusses the ten best Bayern Munich legends. These are athletes with incredible records and accomplishments within the club.

Top 10 Bayern Munich legends list

Using the most recent statistics, we have compiled a list of Munich's legends who have ensured that the team's legacy and reputation have been maintained and restored throughout the years.

10. Gerd Müller

Müller, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the game's history, was the most excellent marksman of his generation. Der Bomber as he was dubbed scored an impressive 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
The former national soccer player Gerd Müller holds a golden soccer shoe in the Coloneum after the anniversary event "40 years of the Bundesliga". Photo by Franz-Peter Tschauner.
Source: Getty Images

Müller began to establish his legacy in the 1960s and 1970s. He was voted European footballer of the year in 1970 and immediately began shattering scoring records.

His record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga season stands, and his goalscoring abilities ensured that he averaged at least one goal per game in seven of his 14 seasons. This statistic makes him one of the Bayern Munich football legends.

9. Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer, dubbed Der Kaiser (The Emperor) due to his overpowering performances for his team, is one of the game's best defenders of all time.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Bayern Munich's, Kaiser Franz Beckenbauer. Photo by Rust.
Source: Getty Images

The German international has been voted European Footballer of the year twice and is recognized for reinventing the sweeper position at the heart of Bayern Munich's and Germany's defences.

Between 1972 and 1974, he won three consecutive Bundesliga titles and led Bayern to a hat-trick of European Cup victories in the prior years. He is one of Bayern Munich's legendary defenders.

8. Philipp Lahm

Lahm is amongst the most accomplished defenders in recent history, and when he retired in 2017, Europe lost one of the best modern defenders. He won the Bundesliga eight times and the DFB-Pokal six times.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Bayern Munich and AC Milan at the Allianz Arena. Photo by Etsuo Hara.
Source: Getty Images

Lahm, who was chosen captain in 2010, led his team to an unprecedented triple in 2012-13, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League.

Pep Guardiola described him as "the most cerebral player I've ever worked with." While this is a bold remark, one cannot dispute it with his former coach. What a talent he was. He is one of Bavarian's legends. Lahm is also among Bayern Munich's legends in FIFA 22.

7. Sepp Maier

Maier was frequently referred to as 'Die Katze von Anzing'. Why? Because he possessed cat-like reflexes, he regularly dazzled between the posts with his lightning-fast reflexes.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Sepp Maier of Germany during the European Championship match between Portugal and Germany at De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands on 20 June 2000. Photo by Eric Renard.
Source: Getty Images

Maier spent his whole professional career with Bayern, where he was a member of the famed team that won four league titles, three domestic cups and three straight European championships. Additionally, the goalie was named German Footballer of the Year three times. The former goalie is one of Bayern Munich's legendary players.

6. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Rummenigge is currently the chairman of Bayern Munich's board of directors, but he also had an impressive playing career. He was the Bundesliga's leading scorer three times and twice won the European Cup.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Karl Heinz Rummenigge (centre) of Germany in action during a match against Romania. Photo by Allsport UK.
Source: Getty Images

He scored 162 goals in 310 appearances during his ten years at Bavaria. In 1980, he was named German Footballer of the Year, and in 1981, he was named European Footballer of the Year.

5. Arjen Robben

Robben is one of Europe's most recognizable wingers in recent history. Everyone was aware of how he operated, but no one knew how to stop him. After periods at Chelsea and Real Madrid, the Dutchman scored 99 goals in 201 appearances for Bayern.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Arjen Robben, former Bayern Munich player. Photo by Albert Foss.
Source: Getty Images

Perhaps most notably is Robben's goal in Bayern Munich's Champions League final victory against German rivals Borussia Dortmund. This was the pinnacle of his career in Bavaria when he won a total of 20 trophies, including eight Bundesliga crowns and five DFB Pokals.

4. Paul Breitner

Paul Breitner was the general of midfielders and defenders. He won seven league titles and twice won the Champions Cup and German Cup with Bayern.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Paul Breitner of Germany arrives for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo by Stuart Franklin.
Source: Getty Images

Breitner teamed up with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to form the powerful Breitnigge. In 1981, he was again voted Germany's Footballer of the year.

3. Franck Ribéry

The Frenchman had a distinguished career with the Bavarian juggernauts. He has won a Bundesliga record nine times, six DFB-Pokals, and the 2012/13 Champions League.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Franck Ribery, for Bayern Munich. Photo by TF-Images.
Source: Getty Images

Ribery was named UEFA's Best Player in Europe award in 2013 during an age when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were in their prime. In 2008, he became the first player to be named both French and German player of the year. Ribery is one of the most famous Bayern Munich legends.

2. Bastian Schweinsteiger

He is one of the greatest central midfielders in world football. At the Allianz, he earned the nickname FuBballgott and was awarded German Player of the Year in 2013.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany reacts after the international friendly match between Germany and Finland. Photo by Sascha Steinbach.
Source: Getty Images

He was one of Bayern Munich's greatest midfielders during their recent glorious history and remained a fan favorite long after his career concluded at the Allianz Arena. Therefore, Bastian has to be the best ex Bayern Munich player.

1. Stefan Effenberg

Effenberg was the destroyer in the midfield. He received yellow cards 109 times, a then-record. His Bayern Munich legacy, on the other hand, is significantly more incredible.

Top 10 Greatest Bayern Munich Legends of All Time Ranked
Stefen Effenberg from Germany during a first round game of the 1992 UEFA European Championship against Scotland. Photo by Marc Francotte.
Source: Getty Images

After a poor first term in Bavaria, he returned in 1998 and won three consecutive Bundesliga titles. He also captained Bayern Munich to victory in the 2000/01 Champions League final, for which he was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.

Following his departure, Bayern fans elected him to their illustrious all-time XI. That is quite an accomplishment, but one that is well deserved. He is also the best among the top 10 Bayern Munich legends.

While there are numerous Bayern Munich legends we focused on the ten most decorated of them. These legends' names will always be in the Bavarians fans' hearts always for all that they have achieved for the club.

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