Bayern Munich wins record fourth straight Bundesliga title

Bayern Munich added to its all-time record of league titles in Germany, winning its 26th and setting a new standard for consecutive championships.

SI Staff | May 7, 2016

Bayern Munich wins record fourth straight Bundesliga title /

Bayern Munich set a Bundesliga record Saturday, winning a fourth straight league title after a 2-1 win at FC Ingolstadt.

The title is Bayern's 26th of all time, by far the most in German top-flight history. FC Nurnberg is next with nine.

Bayern wrapped up the 2015-16 title with a game to spare, as it holds an eight-point lead over second-place Borussia Dortmund, the last non-Bayern club to win the Bundesliga. Dortmund's 1-0 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt Saturday also would've wrapped up the title for Bayern regardless of its result, but Pep Guardiola's side took care of its own business. Against Ingolstadt, Robert Lewandowski scored twice in the first half, one on a penalty kick and one off a beautiful assist from Xabi Alonso, and Bayern held on for the trophy-clinching 2-1 victory.

Is this the goal that delivers Bayern Munich their 4th straight Bundesliga crown? Lewandowski with the PK! https://t.co/uyAYxCUrE8
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 7, 2016

Xabi Alonso's pass on Lewandowski's 2nd goal 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 https://t.co/CZyGQqppFV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 7, 2016

Bayern can still win one other trophy this season as well, as it will meet Dortmund in the DFB Pokal (German Cup) final on May 21 in Berlin. The match will also serve as Guardiola's last managing the club before he departs for Manchester City. Guardiola was denied a shot at a treble–which would've matched his predecessor, Jupp Heynckes–when Atletico Madrid eliminated Bayern from the Champions League in the semifinals.

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Bayern won the Bundesliga in each of Guardiola's three seasons at the helm. This season's charge was led by the dynamic attacking duo of Lewandowski and Muller, who combined for 49 league goals. Lewandowski's 29 are leading the Bundesliga. Five of those goals came in an unforgettable nine-minute stretch–as a halftime substitute, no less–in a win over Wolfsburg in September.

GALLERY: Bayern Munich through the years

FC Bayern Munich Through the Years

1900

A Munich gymnastics club refuses to let eleven of its members join the German Football Association, so those eleven form Bayern Munich as a standalone football club that same evening.

1965

Franz Beckenbauer and Bayern Munich enter the Bundesliga for the first time, having been passed over for the initial collection of teams in favor of 1860 Munich. They win the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in their first season and finish third in the league.

1967

The club captures its first European trophy, winning the 1967 Winner's Cup with an extra-time victory over Glasgow Rangers.

1970

Udo Lattek is hired as head coach. In two different stints in charge of the club, Lattek (seen here in '87) would coach for more days (over 3,000) and win more trophies (10) than any other coach in the club's history.

1971

The club moves from the Grunwalder Stadion to the Olympiastadion, which had been built for the 1972 Summer Olympics. It would be Bayern's home for 35 years.

1972

Bayern Munich defeats Schalke 5-1 in the first live televised match in Bundesliga history, winning that season's league title as a result.

1974

The club wins its first European Cup (now Champions League), 4-0 over Atletico Madrid. It goes on to win the competition the subsequent two years as well.

1974

The club signs Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The striker would go on to score 162 goals for the club and is currently the CEO of the corporation that owns Bayern Munich.

1976

The club wins its first international trophy, defeating Brazilian club Cruzeiro to win the Intercontinental Cup (now abolished).

1987

Jupp Heynckes is hired as head coach. He would win two Bundesligas and two Super Cups.

1993

Norwich City defeats Lothar Matthaus and Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Olympiastadion in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League), the only time a British club was able to defeat Bayern at its old home ground.

1996

With Franz Beckenbauer as interim manager, Bayern wins the UEFA Cup final against Bordeaux, the only time they have won the competition.

1998

Ottmar Hitzfeld is hired as head coach. He would go on to coach the second-most total games and win the second-most total honors in club history (both behind Uto Lattek).

1999

Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Bayern loses the Champions League final in extra time to Manchester United.

2001

Bayern wins its third consecutive Bundesliga title with a stoppage-time goal against Hamburg from Patrik Andersson on a rare free kick from inside the penalty area.

2001

Bayern wins the Champions League after defeating Valencia on penalty kicks at the San Siro in Milan, Italy.

2001

Bayern wins the Intercontinental Cup in extra time against Boca Juniors, thanks to a goal from Samuel Kuffour.

2005

The club moves from the Olympiastadion to the newly-built Allianz Arena, which they share with local rivals 1860 Munich.

2008

The club hires Jurgen Klinsmann (left) as head coach following his success with the German national team at the 2006 World Cup. He is fired 10 months later.

2012

Bayern reaches the final of the Champions League in its home stadium, but loses on penalties to Chelsea. It is the first time the club is defeated by an English team in Munich.

2013

Bayern Munich wins the Bundesliga with six games left, the earliest a champion has ever secured the title. Bayern also sets the record for most points in a season, most wins in a season, and fewest defeats.

2013

Bayern wins the Champions League over rivals Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 win at Wembley Stadium.

2013

Bayern completes the first treble in German soccer history, winning the DFB-Pokal via a 3-2 triumph over Stuttgart.

2014

Bayern ends a Bundesliga record 54-game stretch without losing by falling 1-0 to FC Augsburg.

2014

Bayern breaks its own record, securing the Bundesliga title with seven matches remaining.

2014

Club president Uli Hoeness, who had reigned since 1979, resigns after being convicted of tax fraud.

2014

The club opens offices in the Unites States in an attempt to expand its international reach.

2015

Robert Lewandowski holds up all five fingers–one for each goal he scored in a nine-minute span in a memorable 5-1 win over Bundesliga foe Wolfsburg.

The club also relied on a staunch defense despite a rash of injuries to key players across the back line. Guardiola mixed and matched in front of Neuer to a degree of great success, even turning to the likes of 21-year-old converted midfielder Joshua Kimmich as part of a unit that conceded just 16 times in league play.

Bayern, which only lost at Monchengladbach and at home to Mainz all season, will conclude its Bundesliga campaign against Hannover on May 14.

Published May 7, 2016

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