Last Thursday at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute in Rüschlikon on Lake Zurich, the focus was on investments, monetary policy – and Bayern Munich. Economists, asset managers and Uli Hoeneß spoke at the investment forum “Structured Products 2024 – Diversifying portfolios in turbulent times”. During the final item on the agenda (“What’s next for football?”), the honorary president of FC Bayern revealed what no one in the Bundesliga would have expected six months before the end of the season: “What I can promise is the German championship.”
This raises questions: Who was Gottlieb Duttweiler (founder of the Swiss supermarket chain Migros), why is Hoeneß talking about football at an investment forum (to loosen up just before the end of work?) and why does he once again know more than everyone else?
The presence of highly decorated tie wearers in Switzerland’s pulsating financial center can provoke full-bodied statements. According to its own information, the host institute develops “innovation strategies” and unleashes “leadership potential” – and when it comes to leadership, FC Bayern is the… er… leader in Germany.
The direct competition reacted agitatedly. Leipzig lost in the final phase in Hoffenheim, Dortmund won clearly out of sheer shock and the champions Leverkusen fell behind 0-2 against Heidenheim. Nobody had become champion on an eleventh matchday, Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka defiantly emphasized after the demonstrative 5-2 win against Heidenheim at the end. The man is Swiss – but he has not yet been allowed to trumpet any leadership theses to the world from Rüschlikon.
