Thomas Muller has played his last few games for Bayern Munich, and he’s reflecting on his 17 seasons with the club. The 35-year-old striker has seen a lot of success, including 11 straight Bundesliga titles from 2013 to 2023. Still, he’s been critical of the team’s performance in recent years.
A rocky patch
Muller thinks the team’s issues started after Pep Guardiola left in 2016. Since then, the club has had seven different managers: Carlo Ancelotti, Jupp Heynckes, Hansi Flick, Niko Kovac, Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel, and Vincent Kompany. Muller praises Guardiola, Louis Van Gaal, and Jupp Heynckes for helping the team become a top European club. However, he’s less impressed with the managers who followed.
Muller believes Kompany is on the right track. “This season was a step in that direction,” he said. “The playing style is more in line with what the club and fans expect from Bayern.”
Saying goodbye
In April, Muller announced he’d be leaving Bayern after over 700 games. He’s almost won his 13th German title, and he’s focused on finishing strong. Muller knows it won’t be easy to leave the game behind. “In the last few weeks, you can feel it in the stadium, especially at home, when I come on,” he said. “The adrenaline we feel in the stadium is hard to replace. I’ll probably feel a bit strange on the first few Saturdays after I stop playing.”
Muller is still hungry for more success. He’s determined to win the Bundesliga and the Club World Cup. “We’re going to win it,” he said confidently about the Club World Cup, which takes place in the US this summer.
Some key achievements under Guardiola include:
- 3 Bundesliga titles
- 2 German Cups
- 3 Champions League semifinals
Muller’s time at Bayern has been marked by both highs and lows, but he’s proud of what he’s accomplished.