The players and staff of FC Bayern Munich have yet to receive the traditional Meisterschale after their 4-2 victory over VfB Stuttgart on Sunday, the 30th matchday of the Bundesliga, which secured their 35th league title. However, a different, special trophy was present for the celebration.
Initially, the Bayern players celebrated the final whistle with restraint, almost as if the achievement of their 35th Bundesliga championship wasn’t paramount, especially with other titles still to be decided this season.
But then, the championship shirts were distributed to the team and the support staff – and that’s when many couldn’t help but smile. The white shirts featured a cockatoo in a classic Bayern jersey. For the red and white faithful, the jersey itself was a distinct red with white stripes on the sleeves. The shirt bore only the cockatoo holding a championship trophy; there were no numbers indicating «35,» «Deutscher Meister,» «Forever Number 1,» or any explanation.
And why would there be? The insider joke is undoubtedly understood by all Bayern players and fans with a memory stretching back to last May. Eventually, the cockatoo itself reappeared. Leon Goretzka proudly presented the porcelain bird, which has been a fixture of the German record champions’ celebrations since their first title win with Vincent Kompany.
FCB: Championship Without the Schale, But with a Special Trophy
For those who aren’t closely following FC Bayern or whose memories may be overwhelmed by modern information overload (we understand!), here’s an explanation: During the official championship celebrations last season on May 10, 2025, coach Vincent Kompany, much to his players’ amusement, suddenly placed a white porcelain cockatoo on the podium.
It later emerged that the Bayern team had taken the bird from the upscale restaurant Käfer the week prior. Munich had become champions there, virtually at the counter, after a 2-2 draw by pursuers Bayer Leverkusen against SC Freiburg. They had celebrated this milestone together at the restaurant. Someone had taken the bird, and the «kidnapped» bird became Bayern’s mascot. Käfer’s owner, Michael Käfer, gifted the approximately 1000-euro item to the team, and it even accompanied them to the Club World Cup.
There, it had to remain in its suitcase, but now the cockatoo has once again had a grand appearance. If it were up to Bayern, it’s certainly not the last time we’ll see it this season.