Bavarian benefactor Uli Hoeneß ridicules 1860 Munich team
In a surprising turn of events, FC Bayern Munich's honorary president, Uli Hoeneß, made critical remarks about local rivals, 1860 Munich, during a celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the Allianz Arena.
Hoeneß, known for his direct and straightforward manner of speaking, praised the stadium's atmosphere at evening games, describing it as an "orgy in red and white." However, he also implied that the stadium became great when 1860 Munich moved out, suggesting that their presence may have contributed to financial instability.
The relationship between the two Munich clubs has a long history, with both sharing stadiums since 1925. From the Grünwalder Stadion, which was owned by 1860 Munich until World War II, to the Munich Olympic Stadium built for the 1972 Olympics, and finally the Allianz Arena, designed to accommodate both teams with colored illumination reflecting their colours.
In 2006, 1860 Munich sold their shares in the Allianz Arena to FC Bayern, resulting in Bayern becoming the sole shareholder of the stadium. This move forced 1860 Munich to seek alternative stadium arrangements after losing their stake and primary status at the Allianz Arena.
Hoeneß had to convince for the arena project, recalling a heated argument with the then Minister President Edmund Stoiber, who was a proponent of preserving the Olympic Stadium. The financially struggling 1860 Munich sold their shares to FC Bayern in 2006 for eleven million euros, a move that occurred about a year after the stadium's opening.
The Allianz Arena, costing approximately 286 million euros, was opened in May 2005. Initially, both Munich clubs owned 50 percent of the shares each. However, the sale of 1860 Munich's shares led to a change in the stadium's colour, with the absence of 1860 Munich resulting in the Allianz Arena now having a colour that matches its exterior, namely red.
The recent role reversal of Hasan Ismaik at 1860 Munich has caused controversy, while Hoeneß's comments were deliberate, as he referred to 1860 Munich's financial problems using the term "shaky." FC Bayern's president, Hoeneß, was happy that they fought so vehemently for the stadium, but the implications of his words may continue to resonate in the ongoing rivalry between the two Munich clubs.
Until 2017, 1860 Munich played as tenants in the Allianz Arena before moving back to the historic stadium on Grünwalder Street. The event, meant to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Allianz Arena, has sparked a renewed debate about the relationship between the two Munich clubs, their shared history, and the future of their rivalry.
Hoeneß's comments during the 20th anniversary celebration of the Allianz Arena, referring to 1860 Munich's presence as a potential contributor to financial instability, reignite the debate about the strained relationship between the two Munich clubs, particularly in the context of their shared sports history, notably football. The sale of 1860 Munich's shares to FC Bayern Munich in 2006, leading to a change in the stadium's color and 1860 Munich's subsequent search for alternative stadium arrangements, continues to echo in the discourse surrounding these local rivals' ongoing football rivalry.
