On the terraces: Money in Munich: Are 1860 up for sale? And would Bayern ever sell more shares?

In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from fan protests to finances.

Uli Hoeneß once told the Bayern Munich ultras at an infamous members' meeting: "You're responsible for your f****** atmosphere!" – but the board and the management are responsible for making money. And this week in Munich, it's been all about money, on both sides of the city. First, there were admissions from within the Bayern hierarchy that the decision not to extend Thomas Müller's contract may have had something to do with money after all, with the bank account not as full as it once was. Die Roten are hardly in the red, but what options would Bayern have to raise more cash? Would they sell more shares? Float on the stock exchange? President Herbert Hainer has had his say.

Meanwhile on the blue side of the city, TSV 1860 Munich are no strangers to being a bit short of cash, hence why Jordanian investor Hasan Ismaik bought a 60% stake in the club back in 2011, promising the Bundesliga but ultimately leading Die Blauen into the fourth tier and threatening to contest the 50+1 rule. And then suddenly, on Sunday night, the bombshell: Ismaik wants to sell. And who does he suggest take over? Uli Hoeneß. Seriously.

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Matt Ford's "On the terraces" newsletter will continue to appear every week throughout the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Last season, the newsletter featured exclusive and in-depth coverage of the Bundesliga's private equity plans and the political intrigues at VfB Stuttgart, among other things. If you like what you see, please consider taking out a paid subscription.