O’zapft is! Bayern Munich makes its annual Oktoberfest visit

Bayern Munich’s players and managers made their annual Oktoberfest visit to the Paulaner tent this this Tuesday, three days after recording a comprehensive 4-0 win over FC Köln on the opening day of the festival. The mood was certainly better this year than it was last year, when the team was in the middle of a rough stretch of matches.

The squad and coaching team came decked out in their finest tracht: lederhosen, wool jackets, leather shoes, and glupperl. A few members of the coaching staff paid a visit to the wiesn over the weekend, but the rest of the squad joined in on Tuesday. Interestingly enough, this time around there were no wives, girlfriends, or family members with any of the players or staff during this year’s visit.

Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images

New signees Benjamin Pavard, Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Perisic, and Lucas Hernandez got to experience their first taste of the Bavarian tradition. They looked as if they thoroughly enjoyed themselves along with the rest of the squad. Have a look at some of the photos from the team’s visit (below):

Grid View

• Coutinho and a surprised Thiago. Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• Alaba and Gnabry Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• Coutinho and Hernandez Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• An uncharacteristically beatific Kimmich and a nonplussed Goretzka. Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• It’s Müller time. Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• Goalkeepers Union! Ulreich and Fruchtl! Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• PROST, Brazzo! Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• Perisic and Robert Kovac. Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• Oh Jerome... Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images
• A couple of legends in German sport! Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images

For some of the players who have been with Bayern for some time, the annual Oktoberfest visit is a tradition embraced by all nationalities represented on the squad. For Thiago Alcantara, who’s been with Bayern since 2013, Oktoberfest is something he just can’t wait to tap into every year (pun definitely intended):

There’s an age-old saying that goes “work hard, play harder,” but for Niko Kovac, Oktoberfest is not something he can enjoy too much, because there’s always more work to be done. After Bayern travel to Paderborn this weekend, they face a difficult test in North London against Tottenham in the Champions League. Kovac may just have kept a close eye on which players were [over]-indulging... (Kidding!)