The demands which FC Bayern makes on itself have seldom been as high as they have been this season. With a new team, the German record champion wants to repeat its great exploits in the next season. By the same token, with respect to the selection of vehicles available to them the stars around Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose and Oliver Kahn do not have to accept any compromises either: This year marks as much as the sixth in which the players of FC Bayern have a free choice from the sporty model range of their Premium Partner Audi. Today, the Bavarian footballers took possession of their new vehicles at the “Allianz Arena”.

After the training units performed in the facility on “Säbener Strasse” this was the first practice session of the new team held at the Allianz Arena. Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld made his boys sweat on the grass for a solid hour before they received the keys to their cars. “Audi and FC Bayern München – this is a strong and successful partnership that has consistently been filled with new life for the past five years. We’re happy to be standing alongside Germany’s most successful club,” said Rupert Stadler, Member of the Board of AUDI AG, combined with best wishes from AUDI AG for the team: “We’re hoping to see a strong season and many victories, not only at the Arena.”

Given the freedom of choice from the range of Audi models, it was not easy for the footballers to make their selection. While the new star striker Luca Toni – like Bastian Schweinsteiger or Martin Demichelis, for example – opted for an Audi Q7, defence players Daniel van Buyten and Valérien Ismaël as well as goal-keeper Oliver Kahn chose an Audi S8. All players selected the sporty quattro drive. And after receiving their vehicles, they had the chance to cast a glimpse into the future as well: For a photo shooting, the Audi Cross Coupé quattro was parked at the Allianz Arena: the concept car of the new type of Performance SUV, which may perhaps soon become a spectacular alternative making the selection even more difficult.

The German record champion and AUDI AG have been “on the ball” together already since July 2002. As the team’s Premium Partner, Audi makes vehicles available to FC Bayern München and is present in the stadium at all federal league matches as well as during other events. But the partnership far exceeds the typical sponsoring and supplier relationship: At the beginning of 2003 the Audi workforce founded the Audi FC Bayern fan club with a current membership of over 5,000. Living proof of the partnership is also present at the Audi Shop in the Brand World of the Allianz Arena. On a space of over 200 square metres boasting a modern design and ambience football and automobile fans – in addition to the accessories of quattro GmbH – find the sporty Audi FC Bayern collection.

AUDI AG’s commitment to FC Bayern München is the oldest sporting partnership in football. In addition, the manufacturer from Ingolstadt supports the teams of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona as well as – via their importers – the teams of Manchester United, Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique Lyon, Red Bull Salzburg and AC Milan.