Munich Derby Tradition

The traditional local rivalry of Munich.

The Munich derby is the traditional local rivalry between Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich. It is rooted in the early history of Munich football, where both clubs competed for local dominance. The rivalry was shaped by a pivotal moment in 1963, when Bayern failed to qualify for the newly formed Bundesliga while 1860 Munich was admitted as the 1962–63 Oberliga-Süd champions. This event set the stage for a competitive dynamic that would define the clubs' relationship for decades.

Quick Facts

Rivalry status: Traditional Local Rivalry

Lore & Background

The Munich derby, known locally as the Münchner Stadtderby, pits Bayern Munich against TSV 1860 Munich. The rivalry's modern foundation was laid in 1963 during the formation of the Bundesliga. Bayern, despite a strong regional record, was ranked fifth based on a ten-year evaluation (1952–53 to 1962–63) and was not selected. Local rivals 1860 Munich, ranked seventh, were given preference because they were champions of the 1962–63 Oberliga-Süd season.

Bayern's initial protests were fruitless. In response, president Neudecker hired Zlatko Čajkovski, who had led 1. FC Köln to the national championship in 1962. With young players like Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Sepp Maier—later called the axis—Bayern achieved promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965.

This sequence of events established a competitive dynamic that saw Bayern eventually surpass 1860 Munich to become Germany's most successful club.

Did You Know?

Bayern Munich was founded in 1900 by eleven members who left a Munich gymnastics club (MTV 1879) after being denied entry to the German Football Association.
By 1920, Bayern had over 700 members, making it the largest football club in Munich.
Bayern was taunted as the 'Jew's club' during the Nazi era, while local rival 1860 Munich gained much support.
Bayern Munich has a traditional local rivalry with 1860 Munich, while 1. FC Nürnberg is a regional rival.
The club's first national title was gained in 1932, defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0 in the final.