Thomas Müller etches an unbreakable record in history.
What if German football's last 15 years were devoid of Thomas Müller's influence? What about FC Bayern without the 34-year-old prodigy? And how many titles would they have missed out on? These are quandaries that remain unanswered. Müller continues to thrive, breaking records – against SC Freiburg, he etched a mark for eternity.
His replacement in the 59th minute against SC Freiburg today cemented his position as the sole record-holder of FC Bayern Munich. With 710 competitive games under his belt since his 2008 debut, he surpassed the former record holder Sepp Maier, who played his final 709 competitive games for FC Bayern back in 1979 – a good 45 years ago. Only last week, Müller claimed the record for the most Bundesliga appearances, marking his 474th stint on the pitch.
As Maier shared during an interview with Müller in "Kicker" this week, "When you play for a club for so long, it's just natural." With Müller's unmatched skill set, this sentiment rings true. The 80-year-old all-time great Maier was one of Germany's greatest goalkeepers, and Muller, a living legend of world football, has shown remarkable loyalty towards his club.
In the "Kicker" interview, Müller commented, "Being the record holder wasn't my goal. It's more about consistently being at the top, so you can step onto the pitch." And he has successfully achieved this, except during his first season, when he debuted at 18 in the 2008/2009 season's opener, making just five appearances in his very first year.
The time Maradona snubbed Müller
His first-ever Champions League appearance marked the moment he scored his initial goal. Coach Jürgen Klinsmann brought him in to replace a player in the 72nd minute of a Champions League round of 16 return match against Sporting Lisbon, with the score 4:1. With just minutes remaining, Müller seized a chance after a corner, pushing the ball across the line for a conclusive 7:1 victory.
Beginning this 710th game, he boasts 244 career goals and 269 career assists, but these figures don't fully capture the story of the 2014 World Cup winner. Müller's transformative nature has solidified his place in football history: today, his substitution alone generates such chaos that opponents might as well concede a goal. That wasn't always the case.
When Müller's impressive record was mere speculation, Diego Maradona, then coach of the Argentine national team, distinctly declined to sit beside him at a press conference. It was March 2010, and Müller had just joined the German national team. Unaware of his talent, Maradona preferred to stay away from the young prospect. Müller occupied a seat in the front row.
Months later, Müller's team defied Argentina's World Cup quarterfinal challenge with a 4:0 victory. Müller tallied the first goal. "I was able to leave my mark today," he joked post-match.
Müller has narrowly escaped transfers multiple times.
In his relentless pursuit of football dominance, Müller has proven himself as both the World Cup's top scorer and a "space interpreter," as a World Cup champion and "Radio Müller," and consistently as a player for FC Bayern. The term "space interpreter" even found its way into English football lingo. Müller's loud, humorous interviews in the pandemic-empty stadiums fueled Bayern's triumphant 2020 season, resulting in championships, trophies, and eventual Club World Cup glory.
On the brink of a career crossroads during the Niko Kovač era, Müller found himself struggling for a regular spot. "If necessary, he'll get his minutes," said Kovač, who had stepped in as the Croatian coach in Berlin. "Despite my ambitious nature, I wasn't willing to accept the role of a substitute," Müller confessed. "At that time, I would have considered a less-loyal club affiliation." But then Kovač left, Hansi Flick stepped in, the pandemic ensued, and Müller found himself entering a new phase of his career with hopes of rejoining the German national team this summer.
Before the end of 2019, Müller, too, had sought a transfer back in 2015 and also in his inaugural season. But in 2015, Bayern had opposed a move to Manchester, where his mentor Louis van Gaal was coaching. Additionally, a potential transfer to TSG Hoffenheim fell through during the 2008/2009 season when Ralf Rangnick, then coach of Hoffenheim, eagerly hoped to secure his services. But fate had different plans – Müller's loyalty to FC Bayern endured.
The allure of the podium in the Champions League
"To achieve success, you must possess the will, be able to handle setbacks, and love the sport. Not romantically, but the ability to endure and desire self-improvement. Some athletes display this quality more than others," Müller shared regarding his journey towards the record: "It's about being honest with oneself without losing confidence. A healthy self-image is vital. Top athletes manage to critique themselves harshly and collaborate to improve their performance without doubting their abilities."
Twelve championship titles, two triumphs in the Champions League and the Club World Cup, along with six DFB Cup victories, are listed on Müller's professional record. His tenure with FC Bayern comes to an end at the end of the 2024-2025 campaign. For the first time since 2012, the Champions League final will once again take place in Munich. Regrettably, FC Bayern fell to Chelsea during that year, with Müller netting the initial goal in the 83rd minute. Chelsea shockingly equalized in the 88th minute through Didier Drogba, and later triumphed in a penalty shootout. This loss paved the way for Bayern's triumph in 2013 and their subsequent dominant reign in the Bundesliga for over a decade.
Currently, the "Finale Dahoam" serves as a significant motivation for Müller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who were both present in 2012. If Bayern earns a spot in the final this year, Müller could also elevate his rank among the most prominent players in the Champions League. With his present count of 151 appearances in the elite classification, he falls short by twelve to catch up with Lionel Messi, who occupies the third-highest position in terms of appearances.
A mere QR code in the future
It remains undetermined if Müller, turning 35 this month, will continue his career past the end of the 2024-2025 season. By September 1, 2024, he would have taken sole possession of the record. According to his statement to "Kicker," a potential tribute to him outside the Allianz Arena might take the form of a QR code rather than a statue. "In this progressive era, the generation of victors no longer requires statues. Some day, a file, a cloud, or a QR code could be our testament," he suggested. If this QR code encompasses all his games or simply his goals and goal involvements, keeping up with the Müller phenomenon would necessitate a powerful battery pack. However, as long as he can only be remembered on a smartphone, savour Thomas Müller while he's still active. There aren't many players like him anymore.
After surpassing Sepp Maier's record of 709 competitive games for FC Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller said, "Being the record holder wasn't my goal. It's more about consistently being at the top, so you can step onto the pitch."
Despite Diego Maradona's snub during a press conference in 2010, Müller went on to make a significant impact in FC Bayern's victory against Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinals, scoring the first goal.
