Ever wondered what Bayern München’s motto Mia san Mia actually means? Absolutely everything to Champions Journal fan reporter Alexander Hofmeister
I’m a tour guide at Bayern’s stadium and as I take people around I’m often asked what our Mia san Mia slogan means. Even some Germans struggle to understand it because it’s in Bavarian, emphasising the club’s roots. It literally means “We are who we are”, but there’s more to it than that. A better translation would probably be “We are unique” or “Nobody can touch us”.
Mia san Mia symbolises team spirit, strength and self-confidence, playing dominant football and winning the most important competitions. Thomas Müller defines it as “absolutely believing in success” and this winning mentality is what Mia san Mia is all about. Players must have it in their veins because this attitude can guarantee success. You can see it on the faces of Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich in every game.
Even if the players can’t feel our support at the moment, Mia san Mia is always with them. It’s emblazoned across the empty lower tier of the stadium, a reminder of the trophies still to win and who they are playing for – the fans.
They’ve already given us the biggest gift, winning the Champions League last season, and they achieved that because after seven long years we have recreated a team that embodies the Mia san Mia spirit. Winning this competition twice in a row is tough, but I’m confident because I can still see the winning mentality that took us so far last year.
The home leg against Lazio in the round of 16 proved this again. Before the game, all the media chatter focused on who Hansi Flick would play, suggesting he might field a weaker side because Bayern were already 4-1 up from the away leg. No chance. Bayern do not let up. Bayern always want to win and Flick played his strongest available XI. So we are through to the last eight with an absolute determination to reclaim the crown. That is what Mia san Mia means.
