The German championship trophy is being rebuilt. FC Bayern Munich also plays a major role in the necessary restructuring plans. The DFL’s first plan is in place
Frankfurt – The German football league also has a luxurious problem because of FC Bayern Munich: The German record champions have won the championship trophy so many times that there is no more room on the legendary trophy. After this season, the championship trophy, which has existed for more than 75 years, will have to be rebuilt – and the Munich team is the main reason for this.
The piece of silver, which weighs almost eleven kilos and has a diameter of 59 centimeters, is full. The last entry was made last season: “2025 FC Bayern Munich”. If Bayern become champions again, there is a problem: “2026 FC Bayern Munich” would simply no longer fit on the trophy. The Munich team’s long club name in combination with their numerous championships has used up the available engraving space.
FC Bayern ensures expansion of the championship trophy
The DFL plan: The current outermost ring will be replaced by a wider ring that offers significantly more engraving space. All German champions from 1982 onwards must be engraved again on this new ring. The appearance of the shell changes only slightly, the basic structure remains the same. The irony is that while “2026 FC Bayern Munich” would no longer have a place, a championship title would 1. FC Cologne with the shorter name still fit on the current shell.
It is already the third renovation in the history of the championship trophy due to a lack of space. It was expanded for the first time in 1981 when an additional silver ring was required. The Hamburger SV was the first club to lift the enlarged version in 1982. The next expansion followed in 2009 with larger engraving plates, which enabled three lines instead of two for club names.
The trophy, designed in 1949 by Cologne art professor Elisabeth Treskow, has been worn by all German champions since 1903. The fact that it now has to be rebuilt again is a direct result of Bayern’s dominance in German football. With his countless titles and the advertised club name, the record champions have contributed significantly to the fact that the space on the venerable silver trophy is running out.
For the DFL, the renovation means additional costs, for Bayern it is a luxury problem that reflects their success story. The new, expanded championship trophy will then provide space for many more championship titles – most likely once again predominantly for FC Bayern Munich. (tb)
