Uli Hoeneß: From child prodigy to billionaire and football icon!

Uli Hoeneß: From child prodigy to billionaire and football icon!

Uli Hoeneß, one of the most influential figures in German football, celebrated his 71st birthday on January 5, 2023. The Ulm-born footballer has had a career marked by successes and setbacks. Born as the son of a master butcher, Hoeneß began his career in the youth department of VfB Ulm. At just 15 years old, he even became captain of the DFB school team. In 1967 he moved to TSG Ulm 1846, where he quickly established himself as an integral part of the amateur league team.

His time at Bayern Munich came in 1970, when he signed an amateur contract and made his debut in the Bundesliga. Hoeneß proved to be an indispensable player who, together with Gerd Müller, formed an unstoppable attacking duo. In the 1970s he won the German championship and the DFB Cup three times and celebrated great success with the German national team: the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup shaped his sporting career, although he missed a decisive penalty in the final of the 1976 European Championship. Injuries eventually led to his retirement in 1979, when he was only 27 years old.

From player to manager

After retiring, Hoeneß made a remarkable impression as manager of FC Bayern. Just a short time after his resignation, he became the youngest manager in the Bundesliga in 1979. Under his leadership, the club won an impressive 16 German championships and 9 DFB Cups between 1980 and 2008. His commitment to the club and his leadership skills helped make Bayern Munich one of the most successful clubs in Europe. The construction of the Allianz Arena, which began in 2001 and was completed in 2005, is also largely based on his vision.

Hoeneß is not only a football maestro, but also an entrepreneur. In 1985 he founded HoWe Wurstwaren together with Werner Weiß and also made a name for himself in the business world. Unfortunately, Hoeneß's image was tarnished in 2013 by a tax evasion case. After a voluntary disclosure in the same year, the court verdict followed in 2014: three years and six months in prison. Despite this setback, his connection to FC Bayern remained unbroken.

Return and legacy

In 2016, Hoeneß was released on parole after half his prison term and soon took over the presidency of Bavaria again. He retired from his official positions in 2019, but remains associated with the club as honorary president. On August 2, 2025, Hoeneß was admitted to hospital after a ruptured vein was discovered, but fortunately he has now left the hospital and appears to be recovering well.

Although Hoeneß no longer holds the manager's legal role, he remains a key figure in German football and is often referred to as "Mr. FC Bayern". His impressive life story, which includes both successes and personal challenges, shows the multifaceted nature of a man who has had a lasting impact on football in Germany. With a Catholic upbringing and a path that took him from the youth team of VfB Ulm to the top of FC Bayern, he is not only an athlete, but also a symbol of resilience and commitment.

For more information about his career and relevant events in his life, check out Mercury, a more in-depth chronological review can be found at Mirror and more about it in his profile Wikipedia.