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FC Bayern Munich have a host of stellar midfielders. Thiago Alcantara had been bought to a midfield consisting of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Javi Martinez on the back of a treble winning season. Mario Goetze had also been controversially purchased from arch rivals Dortmund and Josep Guardiola was appointed to steer an already well cannoned ship.
Yet their biggest signing of the season came from within the ranks as one of the best wing backs of our generation as Philipp Lahm replaced Martinez as the anchorman in midfield.
The Switch to Midfield
Transition is something totally unheard of for this abundantly talented defender (or midfielder) as he seamlessly hit top gear playing in front of the defence. Tackling, distributing play and more importantly positioning; Lahm carried out the role with aplomb with a highlight coming in the Champions League against Manchester City when possession hungry Bayern lost the ball in the middle of the park only for Lahm to win it back in a matter of seconds with a brilliant sliding tackle on Jesus Navas. The switch to midfield was justified and Philipp Lahm confirmed his status as the most versatile footballer in recent footballing history.
On the first day of the 2003-04 Bundesliga season, Felix Magath brought on a diminutive footballer as a left back replacing German International Heiko Gerber. The 5’ 7” maestro hasn’t looked back since. He will be the only player to have played 3 World Cups in 3 different starting roles – each following every minute textbook detail to perfection. Sami Khedira, Schweinsteiger and Kroos – how England would have loved to have the midfield trio.
Yet Joachim Loew couldn’t resist the temptation to play their captain, their right back in front of the defence dropping their midfield general Schweinsteiger to the bench. Such is the respect Lahm entices although he returned to his so-called natural position after the torment of Algeria in the pre-quarters but that is attributed more to the slow central defenders rather than his inability to perform in midfield.
Best versatile player in history?
Versatility is a key characteristic one looks in an average footballer. The term ‘average’ is used on purpose to convey the fact that a world-class footballer does not need to be versatile as he is unparalleled in the team. The team looks to play to the world class player’s strengths than the other way around. But for Lahm, it has always been him that plays according to the strengths of the team (as seen in the World Cup recently). There has been no player in recent football history to be world class and versatile at the same time.
When you think of some of the versatile talents on display, there is John O’ Shea, a certain Irish centre back by trade who played in midfield and even in goal for Manchester United. There is Dirk Kuyt who from being the top scorer in Eredivisie ended up at both the wing back positions for Netherlands at the recent World Cup. A versatile player who you could argue is world class is Wayne Rooney, although being shunted to mere supporting roles by Sir Alex Ferguson first for Cristiano Ronaldo and then for Robin van Persie doesn’t help fight his cause. Lahm is the undisputed champion when it comes to being versatile and world class at the same time.
Awards and recognition
Football is a team game and our Magic Dwarf ticks all the boxes and won all the team awards there is to win. Lahm was selected in the World Cup team of the tournament in 2006 and 2010, the UEFA team of the tournament (Euros) in 2008 and 2012 and the UEFA team of the year (Champions League) in 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2013.
He has won the World Cup, the Champions League and all the major trophies in Germany. The only major trophy that eludes him is the Euro. He has arguably been Bayern Munich’s best player in all the seasons from 2006-07 and yet his name is hardly mentioned when it comes to voting for football’s elite.
As Andrea Pirlo enlightens us in his recent biography: “It seems the most important thing is to find yourself in the right place at the ring time with the ball at your feet. The assist is a mere footnote. Without the final pass there wouldn’t be a goal, but I don’t get angry if people forget that fact when they fill in their ballot paper”.
An exception to this has been Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. Football being a team game that it is, fails to appreciate its greatest apprentice, the one who can change positions to bring balance to the team. If you ask a budding footballer, who he aspires to become – the most common answers would be the Messis, the Ronaldos and the Iniestas. But who wants to become a Lahm?
The one who Pep Guardiola himself described as the most intelligent footballer he has ever coached – our versatile champion is truly one of the greats of the game.
