All hail the cockatoo: Konrad Laimer says Bayern Munich won the DFB-Pokal for the bird
It's a really lucky bird, eh?
BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 23: Konrad Laimer of Munich celebrates with the porcelain cockatoo, an unofficial mascot of FC Bayern Munich, after the DFB Cup Final 2026 match between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart at Olympiastadion on May 23, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich’s DFB-Pokal final clash against VfB Stuttgart saw the Bavarians complete a difficult first half as a combination of poor play and excellent work by Die Schwäben saw the favorites be heavily outplayed. In the second half, though, things changed, Bayern went through the gears and three goals by Harry Kane saw Bayern end the match as easy 3-0 victors.
What changed? Did head coach Vincent Kompany give them the hair dryer treatment? Did the support of the fans rouse the players?
Were they just so desperate to finally win the DFB-Pokal again after a six-year drought? Or was the thrall of the title winning cockatoo so strong it carried them to victory? Based on what Konrad Laimer said after the match, it sounds like the latter.
The cockatoo does require a proper cup to drink out of, after all. “The cockatoo is getting thirsty. It’s time we got something to drink,” Laimer intoned (as captured by Bayern’s official website , before he switched tracks.