Stars enjoy annual outing to Oktoberfest

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1328 votes: 2

01.10.2006

Just when the Bayern stars needed to switch off and turn their thoughts elsewhere following Saturday's 1-0 defeat in Wolfsburg, what could be better than the annual squad outing to the Oktoberfest? "We're off to the beer festival now, we'll drown our sorrows, and then we'll make a fresh start," coach Felix Magath declared with a wry smile on Saturday. The appointment duly arrived on Sunday as the entire squad travelled as a group to the 173rd Oktoberfest following the morning training session.

A huge crowd of fans welcomed the team on its arrival, the biggest round of applause reserved for captain Oliver Kahn and Lukas Podolski, making an impressive first appearance in traditional lederhosen. The players and their families enjoyed a warm and friendly afternoon at the event.

Autograph hunter Beckenbauer

The coaching staff, led by head coach Magath, were naturally accompanied by the board of directors. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uli Hoeneß and Karl Hopfner joined in the fun by donning traditional costume, in common with President of the members' club Franz Beckenbauer.

The Kaiser even personally undertook an unusual but vital mission. His youngest boy Joel Maximilian was too shy to approach the star players in search of autographs, so Beckenbauer himself stepped up to the job, collecting signatures from each and every player with an autograph book from the Bayern fan shop in his hand.

Traditional fayre

The party took on board platefuls of hearty Bavarian delicacies and naturally sampled the fine local ales. And just in case one or two of the lads overdid things slightly, the next training session is not scheduled until Tuesday afternoon.