FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich, one of the world’s best-known sports clubs, has a long history in basketball dating back to 1946. Bayern made its European debut in the early rounds of the 1968-69 Cup Winners’ Cup. After a few turbulent decades, 2008 saw Bayern purchase the license of the Dusseldorf Magics to return to the German second tier. Bayern went back to the German top flight in 2011 and also received a wild card to play the 2011-12 EuroCup, before legendary coach Svetislav Pesic stepped in ahead of the 2012-13 season. Everything clicked in 2013-14 as Bayern shined in its EuroLeague debut season by reaching the Top 16 and taking the German title for the first time since 1955. The appointment of charismatic Italian coach Andrea Trinchieri in 2020 sparked another surge as Bayern enjoyed its best-ever season on the continental stage, making the EuroLeague Playoffs and forcing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan to five games in a thrilling series. Bayern was one win away from the Final Four in 2022, when it lost 3-2 to FC Barcelona. Two-time EuroLeague champion Pablo Laso arrived as head coach in 2023 and led Bayern to the German double. Bayern, however, missed the EuroLeague postseason for a second straight year. In the 2024-25 season, new coach Gordie Herbert led Bayern to the EuroLeague Play-In Showdown and its seventh German League crown.
