Modern Football Mavericks: Thomas Muller
What is a Maverick?
A Maverick is an unorthodox or independent-minded person. In regards to Football, these individuals has gone against the rules set by clubs, organisations (e.g. F.A) and even those that fans expect any other player to follow. Some are loved and some are hated, and in this mini-series of posts, I will be looking at how they have become a Maverick and what this means for them on and off the pitch.
Name: Thomas Muller
D.O.B: 13th September 1989
Club: Bayern Munich
Career Information: Bayern Munich (2008 - Present).
Honours:
Club
Bayern Munich
Bundesliga 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15
DFB-Pokal 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14
DFL-SuperCup 2010, 2012
UEFA Champions League 2012-13
UEFA Super Cup 2013
FIFA Club World Cup 2013
Country (Germany)
Club
Bayern Munich
Bundesliga 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15
DFB-Pokal 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14
DFL-SuperCup 2010, 2012
UEFA Champions League 2012-13
UEFA Super Cup 2013
FIFA Club World Cup 2013
Country (Germany)
FIFA World Cup 2014
FIFA World Cup 2010 Third Place
UEFA European Football Championship Semi-Finalist 2012
Individual
FIFA World Cup 2010 Man of the Match vs England, vs Uruguay
FIFA World Cup 2014 Man of the Match vs Portugal, vs United States
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 2010
FIFA World Cup Best Young Player 2010
FIFA World Cup 2010 Most Assists (3, shared with Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Kaka & Dirk Kuyt)
Bayerischer Sportpreis 2010
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt 2010, 2014
World Soccer Younger Player of the Year 2010
Bravo Award 2010
FIFA Ballon d'Or: 15th Place 2010, 13th Place 2011, 17th Place 2013, 5th Place 2014
ESM Team of the Year 2012-13
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2013 (6th Place)
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2014 (4th Place)
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball 2014
FIFA World Cup Silver Boot 2014
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 2014
FIFA World Cup Dream Team 2014
Most FIFA World Cups with at least five goals (2010-2014); shared with Teofilo Cubillas (1970, 1978) and Miroslav Klose (2002, 2006)
The most unorthodox Maverick ever?
Thomas Muller definitely isn't a name that you'd associate with Mavericks in Football but this post isn't going to be full of off-the-pitch incidents and wild statements in the Media. No, this post will be focused on the footballing nature of one of the World's most clinical players. Sometimes being a Maverick isn't all about making unnecessary headlines.
Being a one-man club in his career, so far, Muller is an extremely committed player who has been at Bayern since they have emerged into a huge European Giant. In February 2009, Muller signed his first professional contract and was prepared to be loaned out to other clubs but put into the first team by current Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal. in the second part of the season, he was played as a regular in the starting XI and as a striker with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, which isn't a bad attacking trio. He played all 34 Bundesliga games (starting 29) in the 2009/10, scoring 13 goals and having 11 assists. Unfortunately Bayern couldn't achieve the treble as they lost to a Diego Milto double and the 'Special Ones' Inter Milan side (sidenote: what a player he was). Muller was then awarded best newcomer and voted into the Bundesliga Team of the Year. Van Gaal and Muller developed a great relationship and Muller's transformation into the Bayern starting XI can be highlighted through LVG's quote when asked about Muller's importance to the team ("With me, Muller will always play").
During the winter break of the next season, Muller reflected on what he called an "unbelievable year as a pro", which is fair to say even though he single-handily demolished England at the World Cup in South Africa which really annoyed me. Muller had a good season, obviously, but Bayern didn't live up to their usual standards and therefore meant that Van Gaal was fired and replaced by Jupp Heynckes.
The following season, Bayern only managed to win the DFB Pokal against VFB Stuttgart. in the Champions League final, which was basically a home game for Bayern as it took place in the Allianz Arena, Muller scored the first goal for Bayern but they lost on penalties due to an amazing performance by Chelsea legend Drogba. Muller stated that he was disappointed in being benched so much but would stay at Bayern Munich. In December 2012, Muller dedicated himself to Bayern when saying "There is no club to step up to when you leave Bayern... there almost is no better club." He did finish the season poorly though, with only 11 goals in 53 games.
As Bayern won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal Cup the following season, Muller scored 27 goals in 53 games, including 13 league goals. The following season, Muller signed a new deal that keeps him at Bayern until 2019 and rejected a contract from Manchester United, after an accepted £60 million bid. on 11th March 2015, Muller scored two goals in Bayern's 7-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk, drawing himself level with ex-Bayern player Mario Gomez as the top-scoring German in UEFA ChAMPIONS League History and subsequently became the leader in Bayern's 6-1 win over Porto in April 2015.
Muller is regarded as one of the most clinical players in the modern game, with other top finishers like Lewandoski and Suarez. What makes him different from other finsihers is that he doesn't always play upfront due to Bayern's vast amount of flexible players across the pitch. Therefore, Muller could be playing centre-mid, centre-attacking midfield, centre-forward, right-wing, left-wing or striker. One thing is inevitable: he will continue to get goals wherever he plays.
FIFA World Cup 2010 Third Place
UEFA European Football Championship Semi-Finalist 2012
Individual
FIFA World Cup 2010 Man of the Match vs England, vs Uruguay
FIFA World Cup 2014 Man of the Match vs Portugal, vs United States
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 2010
FIFA World Cup Best Young Player 2010
FIFA World Cup 2010 Most Assists (3, shared with Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Kaka & Dirk Kuyt)
Bayerischer Sportpreis 2010
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt 2010, 2014
World Soccer Younger Player of the Year 2010
Bravo Award 2010
FIFA Ballon d'Or: 15th Place 2010, 13th Place 2011, 17th Place 2013, 5th Place 2014
ESM Team of the Year 2012-13
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2013 (6th Place)
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2014 (4th Place)
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball 2014
FIFA World Cup Silver Boot 2014
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 2014
FIFA World Cup Dream Team 2014
Most FIFA World Cups with at least five goals (2010-2014); shared with Teofilo Cubillas (1970, 1978) and Miroslav Klose (2002, 2006)
The most unorthodox Maverick ever?
Thomas Muller definitely isn't a name that you'd associate with Mavericks in Football but this post isn't going to be full of off-the-pitch incidents and wild statements in the Media. No, this post will be focused on the footballing nature of one of the World's most clinical players. Sometimes being a Maverick isn't all about making unnecessary headlines.
Being a one-man club in his career, so far, Muller is an extremely committed player who has been at Bayern since they have emerged into a huge European Giant. In February 2009, Muller signed his first professional contract and was prepared to be loaned out to other clubs but put into the first team by current Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal. in the second part of the season, he was played as a regular in the starting XI and as a striker with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, which isn't a bad attacking trio. He played all 34 Bundesliga games (starting 29) in the 2009/10, scoring 13 goals and having 11 assists. Unfortunately Bayern couldn't achieve the treble as they lost to a Diego Milto double and the 'Special Ones' Inter Milan side (sidenote: what a player he was). Muller was then awarded best newcomer and voted into the Bundesliga Team of the Year. Van Gaal and Muller developed a great relationship and Muller's transformation into the Bayern starting XI can be highlighted through LVG's quote when asked about Muller's importance to the team ("With me, Muller will always play").
During the winter break of the next season, Muller reflected on what he called an "unbelievable year as a pro", which is fair to say even though he single-handily demolished England at the World Cup in South Africa which really annoyed me. Muller had a good season, obviously, but Bayern didn't live up to their usual standards and therefore meant that Van Gaal was fired and replaced by Jupp Heynckes.
The following season, Bayern only managed to win the DFB Pokal against VFB Stuttgart. in the Champions League final, which was basically a home game for Bayern as it took place in the Allianz Arena, Muller scored the first goal for Bayern but they lost on penalties due to an amazing performance by Chelsea legend Drogba. Muller stated that he was disappointed in being benched so much but would stay at Bayern Munich. In December 2012, Muller dedicated himself to Bayern when saying "There is no club to step up to when you leave Bayern... there almost is no better club." He did finish the season poorly though, with only 11 goals in 53 games.
As Bayern won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal Cup the following season, Muller scored 27 goals in 53 games, including 13 league goals. The following season, Muller signed a new deal that keeps him at Bayern until 2019 and rejected a contract from Manchester United, after an accepted £60 million bid. on 11th March 2015, Muller scored two goals in Bayern's 7-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk, drawing himself level with ex-Bayern player Mario Gomez as the top-scoring German in UEFA ChAMPIONS League History and subsequently became the leader in Bayern's 6-1 win over Porto in April 2015.
Muller is regarded as one of the most clinical players in the modern game, with other top finishers like Lewandoski and Suarez. What makes him different from other finsihers is that he doesn't always play upfront due to Bayern's vast amount of flexible players across the pitch. Therefore, Muller could be playing centre-mid, centre-attacking midfield, centre-forward, right-wing, left-wing or striker. One thing is inevitable: he will continue to get goals wherever he plays.
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