Tips for your trip to Birmingham for Bayern's Champions League game at Aston Villa

The story began on May 26, 1999, when Bayern lost the now infamous Champions League final in Barcelona to Manchester United in the final minutes. While Oliver Kahn, Stefan Effenberg and Lothar Matthäus sat dejectedly on the pitch at Camp Nou, a 15-year-old English boy in the small town of Bolton discovered his passion for Bayern. “Élber and the others won the Champions League two years later. “This team never gave up,” Paul says today.

“For me, football is about identity. There was no other team in the UK that I could identify with more.” Although his father played for Bolton Wanderers, his mother for Newcastle United and the Manchester clubs were not far away, Paul developed a love for Bayern: “I “I think my dislike of United increased my interest in Bayern after 1999.”

Paul, who studied in Birmingham for four years and worked there for three years, adds: “Football should bring people together.” That's why it annoys him that his involvement with the German record champions has angered many of his English compatriots. However, the loyalty of the British towards their home clubs is also typical of the football culture in the United Kingdom.

Paul, we can at least say that you have become a Bayern fan and thank you for the many insider tips. See you in Birmingham!

PS: If you would like to meet Paul and the Bayern Munich UK fan club in person, the plan is for you to meet members in Birmingham city center on Wednesday at the following locations and times: The Colmore (3pm to 4pm), Post Office Vaults (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), Cherry Reds (5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.).