Thomas Muller to leave Bayern Munich after 25 iconic years
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Munich: German football icon Thomas Muller has announced that he will part ways with Bayern Munich at the end of the current season, marking the conclusion of a legendary 25-year journey with the club.
Born in Bavaria, Muller joined Bayern Munich’s academy in the summer of 2000 at the age of 10. Over the next two and a half decades, he developed into one of the club’s most decorated and iconic players, making history across domestic, European, and international competitions. He is currently the club’s all-time record appearance holder, having played in 743 competitive matches.
Bayern Munich confirmed the news on Saturday, stating, “The German record champions will honour Muller’s magnificent career with, among other things, his own testimonial. It’s also been agreed that the two-time treble winner and world champion will play his final games for Bayern at the FIFA Club World Cup, which takes place in the USA from June 15 to July 13.”
Muller made his professional debut for the senior team on August 15, 2008, in a 2-2 draw against Hamburger SV. Since then, he has amassed an unparalleled list of honours: 12 Bundesliga titles, six DFB Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, and eight German Supercups.
In September 2023, Muller surpassed legendary goalkeeper Sepp Maier as the club’s all-time appearance leader. Over the course of his Bayern career, he has scored 247 goals and provided 273 assists.
On the international stage, Muller has also left a lasting legacy, scoring 45 goals in 131 matches for Germany between 2010 and 2024. He was a crucial part of the squad that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and won the Golden Boot as top scorer in his debut World Cup in 2010. He also featured in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and represented Germany at the UEFA European Championships in 2012, 2016, 2021, and 2024.
Reflecting on his departure, Muller said, “It’s clear that today is not like any other day for me. My 25 years as an FC Bayern Munich player will come to an end in the summer. It’s been an incredible journey, shaped by unique experiences, great encounters and unforgettable triumphs.”
He added, “I feel immense gratitude and joy that I got to make this career with my beloved club. The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain. What I want as a farewell should be clear: titles we can celebrate together, and moments we’ll remember fondly for a long time. We’re going to give our all in the coming weeks to bring the league title back to Munich and reach our coveted ‘Finale Dahoam’. Let’s do it together!”
Club president Herbert Hainer also paid tribute, saying, “Thomas Muller is the definition of a Bavarian fairytale career; he grew in Bavaria and with Bayern. From Ammersee to the Allianz Arena, as far as Asia and America. Nobody has won more Bundesliga titles, and 33 trophies in total so far speak volumes. He ranks among the most outstanding personalities in FC Bayern history.”
With IANS inputs
