Previous world champion - Mats Hummels bids farewell to Borussia Dortmund.
As per coach Edin Terzic, Mats Hummels will be parting ways with Borussia Dortmund this summer. The 35-year-old star did not receive a renewed contract from the German club, as announced by the BVB on Friday. Hummels had an exceptional season with Dortmund, helping them secure a spot in the Champions League finals, displaying remarkable performances. His career at Dortmund ended on June 1st with a 0:2 loss against Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium. Despite the reality of his departure, Hummels has yet to disclose his future plans. On Thursday night, "Ruhr Nachrichten" reported about his exit from the club.
In an official statement, the defender expressed his appreciation, stating: "Dear fans, it's time for me to say goodbye after an unforgettable journey of over 13 years. Borussia Dortmund is a unique and extraordinary club, and I'm more than grateful to have been a part of it for so long, helping it rise from 13th place in January 2008 till its present state."
Hummels' BVB and Bayern Career
Akin to Marco Reus, who is departing from Dortmund, Hummels adventure at the club was not always steady. Born in Bergisch-Gladbach, he honed his skills in the youth of FC Bayern Munich and made his professional debut with the Bavarian giants in 2007.
After his first loan term at Borussia Dortmund in 2008, Hummels went on to win the German title twice in 2011 and 2012. Following the 2009 season, Dortmund acquired the young stalwart permanently. Real Madrid-winning Hummels rejoined Bayern Munich in 2016, achieving three more league titles. After a three-year stint at Bayern, he returned to Dortmund in 2019, which he led to a Pokal victory in 2021.
BVB's commercial manager, Lars Ricken, applauded Hummels' contributions, saying: "Mats shaped the BVB for the past 15 years and played a significant role in its football tactics." Despite the bittersweet goodbyes, Ricken added, "Our paths are diverging, and it's not a piece of cake for everyone involved in making such decisions. Mats will always be immortalized in the BVB's history books, and the club owes this player a great deal, and vice versa."
Having played 442 Bundesliga matches (netting 33 goals) and 90 Champions League encounters (finding the back of the net five times), Hummels' final international match was in November of the previous year against Austria. He wasn't invited to this summer's Home-EM.
His critical opinion of trainer Edin Terzic, voiced in an interview with "Sport Bild" before the Champions League final against Real Madrid (0:2), did not sit well with the publication's staff. However, this does not affect the current speculations over the coaching fiasco in Dortmund and potential changes. Hummels weighed in on the recent headlines about the coach's drama on Thursday night through Instagram: "This will be a challenge for me as well." He paired the statement with a laughing emoji.
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Hummels has made 78 national team appearances, and his last was against Austria in the previous month. He wasn't among the selections for the Home-EM.
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Despite Hummels' critical remarks about coach Edin Terzic before the Champions League final, the two will reunite in the upcoming season as Terzic continues his tenure at Borussia Dortmund. Marco Reus, another Dortmund stalwart, has announced his departure, but Hummels' return has left some optimism amidst the changes. In the exciting journey ahead, Terzic will rely on experienced players like Hummels and Reus' successor, potentially Mats' former teammate Marco Reus. Borussia Dortmund will aim to reclaim its glory in the new Champions League season, with Edin Terzic leading the team, Mats Hummels providing vital defense, and a new talent taking the place of Marco Reus.
