Bayern Munich flex financial strength: “FC Hollywood” herald record profit and promise further spending on transfers
Bayern Munich made a record profit after tax last season, alongside a second consecutive year of revenue in excess of half a billion euros.
The German giants revealed profit after tax of €23.8m (£16.8m) at its annual general meeting, the highest in club's history and the 23rd year in the row it has ended in the black.
Revenue dipped slightly to €523.7m from €528.7m as the club did not compete in the Uefa Super Cup nor the Fifa Club World Cup.
Read more: Bayern Munich donate €1m to Syrian refugee efforts
Yet the super-sized financial strength of the club dubbed "FC Hollywood" by fans in Germany was demonstrated in operating profits in excess of €100m for the first time in their history to hit €111.3m.
Club chairman and finance director Jan-Christian Dreesen heralded the results: "FC Bayern Munich is in outstanding shape both in sporting and financial terms," he said. "Our maxim reads: Maximum sporting success alongside financial prudence."
Bayern, who have won the last three Bundesliga championships by dominant point margins, are the only German club considered to be among the world's 10 richest and enjoyed revenues over €200m greater than nearest rivals Borussia Dortmund last season.
Such dominance has allowed the club to sweep up much of the league's best talent and spend €227.3m on player salaries last season – more than 16 Bundesliga teams' entire turnover – and increase their fan membership sales over 270,000 for the first time.
And the club will continue to flex their muscle according to Dreesen.
"Our increasing financial power will be used primarily to make the regular investments required in our first-team squad in order to ensure we remain competitive among the elite teams in Europe," he said.