Imagine a footballing world where the legendary Pelé graced the pitches of the Bundesliga in Bayern Munich’s iconic colours. This extraordinary scenario, a fascinating ‘what if’ in the annals of football history, nearly became a reality, revealing a determined pursuit by the Bavarian giants to sign the Brazilian superstar.
Bayern Munich’s ambition was clear, as they were prepared to offer a substantial DM4 million for Pelé, a figure that highlights the financial magnitude of the proposed Pelé transfer. To put this into perspective, this sum was equivalent to €2 million at the time and was remarkably close to the DM4.6 million (€2.3 million) Bayern would later spend on the formidable Oliver Kahn in 1994, underscoring the club’s serious intent for the Brazilian football legend.
The revelation of Pelé himself in a 2012 interview with Sky90 sent ripples through the European football community. He openly admitted that of all the lucrative offers from top European clubs during his illustrious Santos career – including giants like Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan – he held a special admiration for Bayern, placing them at the very top of his preferred destinations. This deep-seated fondness for the Bavarians was largely influenced by the unwavering efforts of one visionary individual.
The driving force behind this ambitious endeavour was none other than former Bayern Munich club president Roland Endler, who led the club from 1958 to 1962. Endler harboured a profound admiration for Brazil, and fresh from the South American nation’s triumphant 1958 World Cup campaign, he became captivated by the audacious idea of bringing the then 17-year-old Pelé to Germany. His daughter, Barbara Götte, vividly recounted how her father would diligently practice Portuguese every single night, a testament to his dedication to enhance his chances of securing the signature of the global icon.
In 1959, Endler embarked on a pivotal journey to Brazil, accompanied by his vice president, Dr. Karl Wachtel, whom he had meticulously persuaded to join the mission. Their singular objective was to entice Pelé to visit Germany, allowing him to personally experience life in the southern city of Munich and ascertain if he could envision a significant portion of his life and career unfolding there. This crucial visit was successfully orchestrated, offering Pelé a firsthand glimpse into what could have been a monumental historic transfer.
While Pelé thoroughly enjoyed his brief European sojourn, his time away from home quickly illuminated a critical factor that ultimately shaped his career path, leading him to play almost exclusively in Brazil. He found immense comfort and familiarity in his homeland, recognizing that extended periods away from Brazil would invariably lead to severe homesickness. This personal insight, coupled with Santos’s resolute determination to retain their prized asset, made any potential Bundesliga transfer negotiations incredibly challenging, if not impossible.
Despite the failed Pelé transfer bid, Endler’s pioneering connections forged a lasting legacy, earning him honorary membership in both Bayern Munich and the Brazilian FA. More significantly, his efforts paved the way for Brazilian clubs to gain invaluable exposure in Europe. This resulted in Corinthians playing in Europe in 1959, followed by Esporte Clube Bahia in 1960, and eventually Santos itself in 1961 – though notably without Pelé, who was nursing a shoulder injury at the time.
The friendly match in 1961, despite Pelé’s absence and a 3-2 defeat for the home side, proved to be an overwhelming success, generating an unprecedented four-page report in the German papers the following day. Pelé eventually returned to Munich in 1967, but it was Bayern’s fierce local rivals, 1860 Munich, who hosted the Brazilians in a thrilling 5-4 victory at the Grünwalder Stadion. Around this period, there was one final concerted effort to lure Pelé to the Bundesliga, with Borussia Mönchengladbach considered a strong contender and FC Köln making serious inquiries, highlighting the persistent German interest in the football legend.
The saga of Pelé and Bayern Munich remains one of football’s most intriguing “what ifs,” a testament to the ambition of a club and the deep personal ties that shaped the career of a global icon. This chapter in Bayern Munich history underscores the lengths to which clubs would go to secure the world’s most coveted talent, even if fate had other plans.
