Bayern's Midfield Warrior

The All-action Chilean Who Has Fought His Way to Success With Club and Country.
 

- Nick Bidwell

In a fantasy XI of football gladiators, Bayern Munich and Chile box-to-box midfielder Arturo Vidal would be the first name on the team sheet. Dynamic, fearless, aggressive and maniacally devoted to winning, “Rey Arturo” (King Arthur) is the archetypal conquistador. Never shirking, never wavering, he is a Tasmanian Devil in sports kit.

“Arturo is our warrior,” declared keeper Gianluigi Buffon when he was a teammate of the Chilean at Juventus. “Should I have to go to war, I’d like to have him at my side.”

Instantly recognisable by his mohawk haircut and heavily tattooed body, the 29- year-old has always stood out from the crowd. Growing up in the Chilean capital of Santiago, his flair for the game was evident from an early age, and throughout his career he has cut an omnipresent figure; the all-action combatant who sets the tone and steals the show.

Once seen, he is rarely forgotten. Just ask Claudio Borghi, his first professional coach at Santiago side Colo-Colo, who are the biggest, most prestigious club in Chile.

Early in 2006, not long after taking charge of Colo-Colo, Borghi was watching the youth team, ostensibly to have a close look at a highly-rated young striker. Within minutes he had a totally different focus as a 17-year-old Vidal dominated midfield. By the end of the game, Borghi’s mind was made up and the teenager was in the first team squad.

It was quite a turnaround for the youngster. Prior to Borghi’s arrival at Colo Colo, many of the club’s decision-makers were unconvinced by Vidal, finding him a little too wayward and raw. Borghi, though, begged to differ. Flaws, what flaws? All the coach could see was a rich seam of potential to mine.