1860 Munich v Aberdeen

16.07.2009

1860 Munich v Aberdeen preview

by David Ridd and Kevin Stirling

1860 Munich Riga to Reykjavík, Anfield to Akranes. There's no doubting Aberdeen F.C are a club steeped in European history and tradition.

The Dons have travelled near and far since playing their first competitive game on the continent back in 1967.

Over 100 matches have come and gone since then, including trophies, triumphs and tribulations.

However, for the latest generation of fans, it's a trip to Munich, at the start of 2008 which will rank as one of their fondest memories as a member of the Red Army.

Almost 70,000 supporters crammed in to the Allianz ArenA, around 8,000 of those draped in the colours of their beloved AFC.

And despite a 5-1 defeat, each supporter witnessed something special that night, the Dons matching up to a true giant of the game, and in one of Europe's greatest new stadiums.

Whilst it was the might of Bayern Munich on that particular evening, the Bavarian giants are of course co-inhabitants of the impressive stadium.

1860 Munich also ply their trade in the aptly nicknamed 'dingy', and it's the German first division side (second Bundesliga) who Aberdeen face in their first pre season match of the summer this Saturday.

Mark McGhee will get a firsthand look at his new players in action, but unfortunately, it won't be in the Allianz amphitheatre, more in the quaint Austrian district of Bad Wimsbach. You can be sure the aesthetics will matter little to the new Dons gaffer as the serious preparations begin for the much anticipated season ahead.

Aberdeen's first opponents of the new season 1860 Munich were founded on 17th May 1860 after struggling to get established through difficulties caused by the Bavarian monarchy. By 1911, the team had adopted the familiar lion to their crest and in 1919 the club was re-named as TSV Munchen 1860. 1860 reached their first cup semi final in 1927 and went on to establish themselves in the top flight of German football and they won the German Cup in 1942.

In 1963 when the new Bundesliga was formed, 1960 qualified ahead of great rivals Bayern Munich, who had to wait two years to join the German elite.

Despite the glory days of the 1960's (Bundesliga title, German Cup victory and Cup Winners Cup final defeat) now seem a distant memory. In more recent times the club has fallen on financial hardship and life outside the top flight in Germany has been difficult. Gabor Kiraly

Munich are though still able to command an average home crowd of around 35,000. You'd imagine with this kind of support, it won't be too long until we see them back amongst the top flight of German football.

Included in their list of manager's who have tried to revive their fortunes in recent years was Walter Schachner, once of Austria Vienna fame, who came up against current Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee in the 1980 European Cup clash.

And the new 1860's manager Ewald Lienen also played against the Dons new gaffer. The 55 year old played 126 times for Borussia Monchengladbach during the mid 1980's and faced McGhee on the field on three separate occasions in Bundesliga. Two of those matches ended in victory for Mark's Hamburg, while the other ended in a score draw.

Whilst legendary players such as, Rudi Voller, Thomas Hassler and Jens Jeremies are no longer pulling on the 'Lions' jersey. One man who may be a bit more familiar to Dons fans is Hungarian international goalkeeper, Gabor Kiraly. The 33 year old played in England for five seasons with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa (loan) and Burnley and played against the Dons for Hertha Berlin.

1860 Munich v Aberdeen Previous Meetings

Aberdeen have played 1860 on two previous occasions. The first meeting was in Germany during the Dons pre season tour on 23rd July 1971. On that occasion Joe Harper scored what proved to be a consolation for the Dons in a 3-1 defeat in what was the Dons only loss on tour after wins over Dortmund, Augsburg and Nijmegen.

Aberdeen squad fly out to Germany for pre season tour July 1971

1860 returned the compliment by visiting Pittodrie on 27th March 1972. The game was far from friendly and a tough match was decided by an unlikely source. Aberdeen defender Henning Boel joined in the attack and he scrambled the ball over the line from close range with the Germans claiming for offside to give Aberdeen a 1-0 win.