Prøve GULL - Gratis

It's Muller Time!

World Soccer

|

February 2016

The Bayern Munich and Germany star may be in his prime, but not everyone was convinced he’d make it.

- Nick Bidwell

It's Muller Time!

Married to a talented equestrienne and a lover of horses himself, Germany and Bayern Munich attacking thoroughbred Thomas Muller was not always as universally revered as he is today. In fact, a few years ago he came very close to not making the professional grade at all in Bavaria. 

In 2009, while playing for the club’s reserve side, a deal was almost done to sell him to Hoffenheim. And it’s fair to say that Bayern’s coach at the time, Jurgen Klinsmann, would not have shed a single tear if he had left.

 “Jurgen Klinsmann had made up his mind and told me there was no room for me in the first team,” recalled Muller in an interview with Kicker magazine in 2013.

“Hermann Gerland [Bayern’s long serving youth coach] came out against the idea, plus Hoffenheim did not offer enough. The transfer window closed and I stayed put.”

That was not the only time the wiry young local lad looked to be heading for the Bayern exit. In a decision that he is still trying to live down, FC Zurich president Ancillo Canepa ignored an opportunity to take Muller on loan, explaining: “We didn’t want to bring in a player we had only looked at on DVD. Anyway, we were more interested at the time in a more bustling type of striker.”

A few weeks later, in the 2009 close season, newly appointed Basle coach Thorsten Fink also made an attempt to take Muller to Switzerland, along with fellow Bayern second-stringer, defender Holger Badstuber.

World Soccer

Denne historien er fra February 2016-utgaven av World Soccer.

Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.

Allerede abonnent?

FLERE HISTORIER FRA World Soccer

World Soccer

World Soccer

Kane fires Bayern back to the top of the pile

The Bavarians regain their Bundesliga crown a year after surrendering it to Bayer Leverkusen

time to read

3 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

Slot’s Reds too good for the rest

Liverpool run away with the title after a far from vintage Premier League season

time to read

3 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

Barca crowned kings of Spain

The Catalan club were the standout side in Spanish football in 2024-25

time to read

3 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

McTominay stars in Napoli Scudetto

Scotland midfielder clinches the Serie A title for Antonio Conte's side in dramatic conclusion to 2024-25 campaign

time to read

3 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

PALMER INSPIRES CHELSEA COMEBACK

Ice-cool playmaker leads Chelsea's recovery against Real Betis as Blues complete full set of UEFA trophies

time to read

3 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

UNION'S LONG WAIT FOR THE TITLE FINALLY OVER

After yet another dramatic final day of the season, Union Saint-Gilloise won the league title for the first time in 90 years with a 3-1 victory against Gent.

time to read

1 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

Porto fall behind Lisbon giants

In Andre Villas-Boas' first season as club president, the side from the north fell miles short of Portugal's other Tres Grandes

time to read

3 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

BUSINESS AS USUAL

There appears to be no end in sight for Ludogorets' domination of football in Bulgaria.

time to read

2 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

EVENTFUL SEASON ENDS WITH LECH POZNAN TITLE

Going into the last round of the 2024-25 Polish league season, Lech Poznan led Rakow Czestochowa at the top of the table by a single point, knowing that victory against Piast Gliwice would secure the title.

time to read

2 mins

Summer 2025

World Soccer

World Soccer

The great Pyramids

Egyptian side Pyramids see off Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa to win their first-ever African Champions League crown

time to read

5 mins

Summer 2025