LION FORTRESS
Inside six-time Champions League winners’ graffiti-covered former stadium which now hosts fourth tier football
The stadium got heavily damaged by air raids during World War II but got rebuilt and further expanded quickly after
BAYERN MUNICH'S much-loved former stadium is now covered in graffiti.
More than 50,000 people were once packing the stands in the Grunwalder Stadion before Bayern left in 1972.
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But Bayern have kept some connection with the Grunwalder as their second team host games in the German fourth tier there.
The record attendance was a massive 58,000 people back in 1961-62, but the capacity has since been reduced to 21,200.
The ground saw many games of the early golden years of Bayern, including two German title triumphs in 1931-32 and 1968-69.
Bayern, led by the great Franz Beckenbauer, left in 1972 and won their first of six European trophies two years later against Atletico Madrid.
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It was once Munich's largest stadium before Bayern's current 75,000 seat Allianz Arena fortress opened in 2005.
But now the Grunwalder, which was also used for their city rivals 1860 Munich, looks unrecognisable.
After both teams left for the Olympiastadion in 1972, plans were put in place for it to be demolished.
But that decision was postponed as the council decided to redevelop the ground instead.
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It underwent a large renovation in the late 1970s, including the construction of two new main stands still used today.
Over the years, the state of the stadium had slowly deteriorated and capacity was reduced due to safety measures.
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The ground still does not meet standards to play matches in the German second division.
In 2017, 1860 Munich, nicknamed the Lions, decided to move back into the Grunwalder Stadion.
A Munich sport's committee voted for a comprehensive renovation in September 2022, with work set to begin in 2026.
The measures will reportedly set the council back £77million.
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