5 Things for Bayern Munich Fans to Look Forward to in 2015/16 Bundesliga Season

Bayern Munich's 2014-15 season ended on a positive note with a convincing 2-0 victory over Mainz. The result ended a three-game losing streak in the Bundesliga that perhaps cast a bit of a shadow over their early clinching of the title, but it did not take away their triumph over the course of the season.

At the end of the match, Pep Guardiola and company were proud to claim the shield and celebrate with their fans at the Allianz Arena.

The campaign was a volatile one for Bayern, with soaring heights and dismal depths. In the end, retaining the title was a big positive, but they would have hoped for more convincing performances in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal.

Heading into next season, there's quite a bit of work to be done for Bayern to get back to the peak they reached in 2013. With several stars set to return to full fitness and record revenues available to back their pursuit of new signings, there are reasons to be hopeful.

Click "Begin Slideshow" to see B/R's top five things for Bayern fans to look forward to next season.

The Return of Javi Martinez

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Last August, it looked as though Javi Martinez was going to be a regular starter as one of three center-backs in Pep Guardiola's system. However, a cruciate ligament tear sustained early in the DFL-Supercup kept him out for almost the entire season. He only recently returned to action, playing a total of just over an hour in two games.

To play in such a system, a player of Martinez's abilities is hugely important. Physically imposing but capable with the ball at his feet, he can help transition from defense to attack, break up play as opponents approach the penalty area and act as a director for his team.

Martinez will enter the 2015-16 season having played just a few competitive minutes over the course of a full year, so he may be a bit rusty. However, he's got a full preseason in which he can recover form and fitness. He was a vital player in Bayern's treble-winning campaign two years ago, and his presence could be a huge boost next season.

New Signings

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

One lesson that emerged for Bayern in 2014-15 was that the squad is in need of some big changes.

Xherdan Shaqiri was a resounding failure and was moved on. Mario Gotze was generally very poor and, at this point, cannot be considered a player who will be relied upon. Xabi Alonso showed his years again and again. Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schwesteiger all moved further into their 30s while spending large portions of the season sidelined with injuries.

Bayern need fresh, new ideas in order to reclaim their position among Europe's very elite clubs. And with Pep Guardiola entering the final year of his contract, the German giants will be keen to give him a squad that will make them Champions League contenders once more. That would at least put his final year to good use and could convince him to extend his contract.

Reinforcements are certainly in order this summer. Whoever comes in, be they rising talents, established superstars in their primes or veterans, could have a huge effect on the club's short- and mid-term direction. Fans will be very excited if Bayern manage to land a big-name player such as Kevin De Bruyne, Antoine Griezmann or Marco Verratti.

More Tactical Tinkering from Guardiola

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Guardiola gets a lot of stick for being stubborn and trying too hard to be innovative seemingly for the sake of innovation. In fairness, he is both. But in the coach's defense, he did manage to make tiki-taka a thing of the past at Bayern during 2014-15 and taught his team several different systems over the course of the year.

Bayern sometimes played in a 3-5-2 system with three, two or even just one natural center-back. They sometimes operated in 3-4-3. They played 4-3-3 with two and three defensive midfielders at different times. They sometimes used a 4-4-2 that relied on a trequartista to supply the center forwards. They even used a flat 4-4-2 based on long-ball tactics.

All these systems were effective at some time or another. However, Guardiola didn't manage to find a winning formula in the biggest domestic and continental games. He'll surely continue his tactical experimentation next season, especially with Martinez returning and newcomers likely on their way.

A Changing of the Guard

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Over the last six years, Bayern Munich have been the team of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, the deadly wing duo to whom the German giants have looked when the going became tough. For leadership, they've looked toward Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, the captain and vice-captain respectively.

Things are changing in Munich, though, and there may be a bit of a changing of the guard in the upcoming campaign, as aging stars make way for the next generation.

In terms of inspiration, there is a real question mark over who will be the world-class player to turn to in order to provide a spark in the attacking third. Mario Gotze has the potential, but he has struggled to make anything of his considerable talents in Bavaria. There could be a new summer signing to make the difference. If not, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski could be the new Robben and Ribery.

They're entirely different in terms of style of play, but their performance in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal against Barcelona was evidence that they are perfectly capable of stepping up and delivering goals when it matters most.

In terms of leadership, Muller is a perfect example of a player with burning desire to win and has good control over his emotions. David Alaba and Manuel Neuer also fit the bill, as do Lewandowski and Martinez. All are relatively young, and although individuals will have to be picked in the captain hierarchy, the presence of players with a champion mentality bodes well for Bayern's future.

As Lahm and Schweinsteiger continue to age, Bayern will have no shortage of on-pitch leadership.

FC Bayern: The Worldwide Tour

Osama Faisal/Associated Press

Increasing their brand globally has been a priority for Bayern as of late—the club opened offices in New York and China last year. They have also started to travel around the world during the offseason, having visited the United States last summer. They have plans to continue this pattern in 2015 and beyond.

CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed to Die Welt (h/t the Bundesliga's official website) earlier this spring that Bayern will play in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing this July. The Bavarians visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia in January, and during the upcoming winter break, they will surely take advantage of the opportunity to market their brand in more foreign markets, either in the Middle East or elsewhere.

Take note: FC Bayern may be coming to a stadium near you.