The week of their lives – Part 7: The day of glory | OneFootball

Fifty years ago, Bayern became the first German team to win a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles and the European Cup – all within the space of eight days. Members magazine ‘51’ has taken a look back at four unforgettable games and forgotten moments off the pitch in May 1974. Part 7 tells the story of Bayern’s victory in the replayed final against Atletico Madrid and how the national and international press reported on this golden generation.

Friday, 17 May

At 9.30am, the team went for a walk, as they did before every game. This was followed by a team meeting, lunch and a rest. A solid routine. Some players were given special tasks by coach Udo Lattek. Striker Conny Torstensson, he recalls, was told to “restrict himself to defensive duties and deal with right-back Melo”. Rainer Zobel remembers that we should “operate more with long-range shots. We'd learnt a lot about Atletico in the first game and knew how to break them down.”

Only 35,000 spectators attend the second edition of the final at Heysel Stadium. Bayern had a clear advantage. Thousands of German football fans from North Rhine-Westphalia had come to Brussels, wearing caps in white and red colours and waving Bayern flags. “A remarkable, if not sensational phenomenon,” commented the Münchner Merkur, “the West is pushing on Bayern.”

Bayern fans were very much in the ascendency in Brussels on Friday.

Bayern fielded the same starting line-up as on Wednesday. After just 10 minutes, Gerd Müller realised that “the Spanish defence was not as secure and rock-solid today” as it had been in the first game. Der Bomber took advantage of the new freedom and hit the left post with a header in the 15th minute. Then, in the 28th minute, Bayern had their deserved lead. Uli Hoeneß picked up a pass from Paul Breitner, went around a defender and put the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Miguel Reina to make it 1-0. At the break, commentator Oskar Klose said: “Bayern are a touch better, but Madrid have stomached the shock better than you thought.”

Hoeneß sparks Bayern celebrations

Bayern were particularly threatening with long balls to Hoeneß, Zobel and Jupp Kapellmann. Zobel in particular was unstoppable that evening, not only playing the role of central midfielder but also repeatedly popping up dangerously on the wings. “The best winger on the pitch,” later praised the Süddeutsche Zeitung. In the second half, Müller scored two great goals in the 58th and 69th minutes. Then, in the 82nd minute, Hoeneß set off on his famous storming run across the pitch to make it 4-0. Even before the final whistle, Müller and Hoeneß were walking arm in arm across the pitch.

It was all over. The clearest margin of victory in a European Cup final since Eintracht Frankfurt's 7-3 defeat against Real Madrid 14 years earlier.

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The team carried Lattek on their shoulders on the pitch. On the bench, Robert Schwan shouted at the team doctor: “We've got it - the cup!” In the dressing room, Hoeneß held the trophy in his hands and thought: “If you could hold on to happiness, this would be the right moment.” Zobel said: “The joy of a win quickly fades. But being the first to win this trophy will stay with you forever.”

Italy’s Corriere Dello Sport praised the “irresistible” Hoeneß, “who will certainly soon be one of the best footballers in the world”, and Beckenbauer, who offered “a spectacle within a spectacle”. French sports newspaper L'Équipe ran with the headline: “No problems for Bayern this time.” The Times in the UK stated: “Bayern Munich showed the whole of Europe that this team are the undisputed champions.”

With the trophy in hand, Bayern made their way to the hotel, where they celebrated at the victory banquet.

Perhaps out of superstition, little has been prepared for a victory banquet at the hotel. Hungry European Cup winners Hoeneß and Breitner had to drag chairs and tables to make room for the guests. The midnight menu was modest. Everyone was served cream of asparagus soup, a piece of fish, a chicken with cherries (plus a croquette) and a miniature piece of ice cream for dessert.

When coach Lattek retired to his room to read, he was bought back down by the players. According to newspapers, the 87 guests drank 97 bottles of champagne and 498 bottles of beer. Sepp Maier handed out drinks and managing director Walter Fembeck rang journalists to get them out of bed again in the early hours of the morning: “If we’re celebrating, you don’t get to sleep.”

Read part 6 of our series here:

The week of their lives – Part 6: Getting ready for final replay