The Year of the Tiger
This February, the German partners join their fans and friends in China in celebrating the Spring Festival. Figuratively speaking, of course, as their plans to travel to China have been consistently put on hold in recent years. Still, the FC Bayern players Thomas Müller, Sven Ulreich, and Kingsley Coman found a way to stay connected to their Chinese community — by channeling their inner Tiger. Tigers are ambitious, courageous, self-confident, and have a strong sense of justice and a commitment to help others for the greater good. The players at FC Bayern live by these values every day. As the Spring Festival is in full swing, they take the opportunity to really study the Tiger, its strengths, and what it means to think like a Tiger.
he festivities around Chinese New Year celebrate a transition in the 12-year cycle of zodiac animal signs and their ascribed attributes, based on the lunar calendar. February 1, 2022, marks the reign of the Tiger. According to the Chinese zodiac, Tigers are courageous and active people who love a good challenge and adventure in life.
Even without factoring in the traits and characteristics of its zodiac sign, the tiger has an air of casual superiority about it. Take a step closer and you’ll find the attributes of the Tiger are determined by superlatives of ambition and performance — attributes that are also found in great football players.
In this Year of the Tiger, great football players like those at FC Bayern are reminded of themselves and their constant goal to be first.
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I don’t shy away from a challenging game. I think a good player has a lot to gain from a challenge — it is when we rely on our passion and imagination most.”
The Tiger incites a sense of both awe and admiration: its prowess, its ferocity, its beauty, and the harmony of the opposites. It is full of life and embodies the spirit and drive to achieve and make progress. Sound familiar?
Whether it’s on the pitch or on the track, FC Bayern and Audi live and breathe progress. Just like the Tiger, they never give up, no matter how many difficulties or obstacles they face. On the pitch, this Tiger attitude is what has paved the way for FC Bayern to become one of the most successful football teams of all time.
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So much of the game is determined by intuition and endurance. If you never accept defeat as an option, it’s easier to connect with your instinct and fight to the finish.”
Putting progress first also means keeping a watchful eye on the future. In Chinese culture, the Tiger is seen as the guardian of children, who often wear tigers on their clothes as a sign of good luck. Because protecting children means ensuring a better tomorrow. The protective nature of Tigers is rooted in their intrinsic sense of justice and dedication to honoring what is true and good.
st like the Tiger, FC Bayern has always been dedicated to the young people who will shape our future. The future of this club always has and always will depend on its people — the young talents, teammates, fans of all ages and the legacy they all carry into the world.
The legacy of always striving to win — no matter how many trophies are on the shelves at Mom’s place already — of always playing by the rules, of always thinking as a team, and the new legacy of always thinking like a Tiger.
