Munich – Thomas Muller smiled as he held up his jersey with the necessary safety distance from the bosses these days. The big figure of identification and FC Bayern Munich will continue their title-winning collaboration at least until June 30, 2023.
“The whole world is at a standstill, football is no longer a top priority, not even for me personally,” said Muller on the day of good news for him and the club. “But of course, when you think about extending your contract, you think about the future. And in the future – I think it’s difficult – football will be played again. »
After the extension with trainer Hansi Flick also until 2023, the Munich team fixed the next perspective personnel decision within a few days. Muller came to the soccer record champions as a little boy at the age of ten. The now 30-year-old celebrated eight championships, five cup wins and, in triple year 2013, the triumph in the Champions League with the professionals.
“You’ve had disappointments, you’ve had huge successes,” recalled Muller. “Of course, this club is not just any employer for me, but my passion for football and history.” As a native of Upper Bavaria, Muller is not only of great importance for sporting reasons. “I’ve been driving to Sabener Strasse for two-thirds of my life,” he mused.
While negotiations on an early contract extension with Captain Manuel Neuer seem to have stalled, all sides emphasized the rapid agreement at Muller. The working papers of his world champion colleagues from 2014, Neuer and Jerome Boateng, as well as those of David Alaba, Javi Martínez, Thiago and Sven Ulreich will expire next summer like the old offensive force Muller contract. CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently emphasized that the previous offers were “without a Corona discount”.
The 64-year-old, like his future successor Oliver Kahn, was delighted with the contract extension with Paradebayern. “Thomas is there for the fans here, for the die-hard FC Bayern fans a very big figure of identification,” said Kahn. «But he is also someone who is known worldwide. It also carries many things and qualities that FC Bayern wants to embody abroad with its lightness. » Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic praised Muller as “a special player, an identification figure and a leading player”.
The contract extension had emerged – and is impressive proof of the fast pace of professional football. After ex-trainer Niko Kovac had degraded the former “miller-plays-always” miller to an emergency nail, Flick’s manager rose again to become a top performer. At the last Bayern game so far this season, the 2-0 win over FC Augsburg, he demonstrated this with his 116th Bundesliga game in the 343rd game. With 16 assists, he is the top preparer in the league.
«The club and I have been on the upswing in recent months. This feeling naturally contributed to the fact that you sign with an absolutely good feeling, »explained Muller. He longs for the end of social worries and then also for the game break currently dated April 30th. “Football will not only be important again for us players, but also for the people out there. And people will have fun playing football again. »
The contract terms of the professionals at FC Bayern:
2020: Philippe Coutinho (end of loan), Ivan Perisic (end of loan), Alvaro Odriozola (end of loan)
2021: Manuel Neuer, David Alaba, Thiago, Jerome Boateng, Javi Martínez, Sven Ulreich, Ron-Thorben Hoffmann
2022: Niklas Sule, Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso, Lars Lukas Mai, Christian Fruchtl
2023: Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Kingsley Coman, Alphonso Davies
2024: Lucas Hernández, Benjamin Pavard, Michael Cuisance, Fiete Arp
