Uli Hoeneß: The legend and his dramatic comeback in football!

Uli Hoeneß: The legend and his dramatic comeback in football!

Uli Hoeneß, the legendary “Mr. FC Bayern”, has shaped the world of football like no other. Born on January 5, 1952 in Ulm, he grew up as the son of master butcher Erwin Hoeneß and Paula Hoeneß and began his career in the youth department of VfB Ulm. He was captain of the DFB school team at the age of 15 before moving to TSG Ulm 1846 in 1967, where he quickly established himself as an integral part of the amateur league team. The 1969/70 season was particularly successful for him, as he became Ulm's top goalscorer with 22 goals.

His move to FC Bayern Munich was the next big step: in 1970 he signed an amateur contract and made his debut in the Bundesliga. Hoeneß celebrated great success with FC Bayern and won the German championship and the DFB Cup three times. As part of the legendary attacking duo with Gerd Müller, he won the European Cup three times. His international career culminated in the 1972 European Championship, where he triumphed with the German national team. Hoeneß also featured in the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands, despite a painful setback at the 1976 European Championships, where he missed a crucial penalty in the final.

From playing career to management work

After a meniscus injury, Hoeneß lost his regular place and moved to 1. FC Nürnberg on loan in 1978 before he had to end his playing career in 1979 due to cartilage damage in his knee. But instead of disappearing into obscurity, he became the youngest manager in Bundesliga history at FC Bayern. In the years between 1980 and 2008, 16 German championships and 9 DFB Cup victories followed under his leadership. He experienced a fateful twist in 1982 when he was the only occupant to survive a plane crash.

The years were not only characterized by sporting success. In 2014, Hoeneß hit the headlines for tax evasion and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. In 2016, however, he was released on probation after half his sentence and was re-elected president of FC Bayern. Despite his health setbacks, most recently in August 2025 when he was hospitalized due to a burst vein, Hoeneß remains a central player in German football.

An influential personality

With over 99 percent, he was elected president of FC Bayern in 2009 and continues to shape the club as honorary president to this day. His name will be inextricably linked to the club, both for the successes and the controversies he went through. "Mr. FC Bayern" is not just a title, but represents the remarkable career of a man who was able to achieve great things both on the field and on the organizational side of football.

In summary, Uli Hoeneß has had an impressive career marked by ups and downs. With him, the football world has one of its most colorful personalities, and his influence will remain felt for a long time. Not just Bayern Munich, but all of football in Germany would look different without him.