EHC Red Bull München's Christian Winkler celebrates his 20th anniversary

Wednesday, 01. May 2024 | EHC Red Bull München's Christian Winkler celebrates his 20th anniversary

Visionary & four-time master architect: Christian Winkler celebrates his 20th anniversary// NEWSToday, Wednesday, Christian Winkler, Managing Director Sports Red Bull Ice Hockey, is celebrating a very special anniversary. Born in Mittenwald, he has been in charge of the sporting fortunes of our club since 1 May 2004.

Two decades of Munich ice hockey! No other manager has shaped the history of EHC Red Bull München over the past 20 years as much as the 52-year-old. And the track record since then is truly impressive.

As sports director, Winkler led the club from the Oberliga to the Bundesliga 2 in 2005 and into the top flight of ice hockey in 2010. The club also won the DEB Cup in 2010. A year later, the former goalkeeper was voted DEL Manager of the Year. We have also left our mark internationally. In 2019, the Red Bulls reached the final of the Champions League.

Winkler's top 3 moments from over 800 DEL games

The championship titles in the PENNY DEL tower above all these successes. Four times, "Winki" has put together a squad that dominated the league and stood at the top of the winners' podium at the end of the season. Between 2016 and 2018, they won three titles in a row, followed by their last triumph to date in 2023. "The first championship in Wolfsburg in 2016 - an unforgettable moment," Winkler looked back on the occasion of our 800th DEL game in December 2023.

The 2018 title win in game seven against Eisbären Berlin in the naturally sold-out Olympia-Eisstadion was no less emotional. "The Oberwiesenfeld exploded. We played an incredible game," recalled the master architect. Other highlights from Winkler's top 3: Our very first DEL game as a newly promoted team on September 3, 2010 at Adler Mannheim. And the fourth title win in May 2023 in Don Jackson's 1,072nd and final game should not be missing from this ranking.

Full of energy and with great visions

Speaking of Don Jackson. The coaching legend once emphasized the importance of Winkler for Munich ice hockey. "Christian is the heart and brain of this organization, he has shaped an era here," praised the DEL record-breaking coach. "As an energetic man with great vision, he demands top performance from himself and others every day," the US-American continued.

With the upcoming move to the SAP Garden, another of Winkler's visions will soon be fulfilled. "The SAP Garden marks the beginning of a new era for ice hockey in Munich. It will become a beacon for the city of Munich," he says confidently. Winkler is also particularly keen on our youngsters. There are three training areas for youngsters in the SAP Garden. "That makes your heart beat faster. The more than 300 children will have an incredibly great home."

And perhaps one of the juniors will one day make the leap into the Munich professional squad or even the NHL. JJ Peterka, who is coming to Munich with his Buffalo Sabres for the Grand Opening of SAP Gardens on September 27, has already shown how it's done.

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Get your season ticket now and attend the game against the Buffalo Sabres

Emotions in ice hockey, tranquillity in nature

In future, Winkler will watch the Red Bulls' home games in our new home. Just in the thick of it, just as emotional. As in all the years before. Even the one or other referee has already felt his fire. But for him, emotions are simply part of ice hockey. Just like the occasional jog on the morning of a match day, for example before particularly important games. In the playoffs, for example.

Winkler likes to get out and about on foot anyway. Preferably in his picturesque home town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, hiking in the mountains. There he finds peace and strength, which he needs in this responsible job. The perfect balance to his stressful everyday working life.

"Everyone needs a team that puts their heart, soul and soul into their work"

Winkler's guiding principle: "Never be too important to yourself, stay down to earth. And always know that the individual can't achieve much. Everyone needs a team that is behind them with heart, soul and passion. I've been lucky enough to have that here all these years."

Winkler has been following these examples for 20 years now. Always helpful, always approachable, always at eye level. And everyone else follows suit.

Congratulations, Christian!