When it comes to decorated players in football, there’s few better than Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller. But while he’s played at the highest level throughout his career, there’s a debate to be had as to whether or not he’s the most under-appreciated player in the world. At 34, Müller has signed a contract extension with the Rekordmeister until 2025 and it feels as though that retirement is a possibility after that.
Müller has won it all, and only once he retires will many realise just how magical the German was.
At 18 years, 11 months and two days, Müller was awarded his professional debut by Jürgen Klinsmann and he would go on to play for several world class managers: Louis van Gaal, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Jupp Heynckes to name a few.
Thomas Müller’s presence in football is under-appreciated
During his time at Bayern Munich, Müller has played 684 games across all competitions to date, scoring 237 goals and assisting a further 261. A one club man, Müller has won it all: 2 x Champions League Winner, 2 x FIFA World Club Cup Winner, 12 x Bundesliga Champion, 2 x UEFA Supercup, 6 x DFB Pokals, 8 x German Supercup.
He was influential in Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning campaign and is synonymous when it comes to the Raumdeuter role – a player who interprets space, an art in which Müller perfected.
When it comes to players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and going further back to the days of Zinedine Zidane, we were graced with their unique skill, but because Müller has been at one club and while Bayern have somewhat had it easy with 12 consecutive league titles, Müller’s presence in football is perhaps under-appreciated.
