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One of the biggest footballing nations, Germany boasts a rich and trophy-laden history in the sport.
Some of the best players in the world have emerged from the country, while some of the most successful teams to have played the game have been German as well. There has been strong focus on grassroots football in recent years, and their success in the 2014 FIFA World Cup was the end product of a successful plan.
There have been lots of iconic German footballers over the years who have achieved a lot in the game.
5 Greatest footballers produced by Germany
#5 Philipp Lahm
One of the greatest defenders of the modern generation, Philipp Lahm was an important cog for both club and country for many years.
An extremely intelligent player renowned for his versatility and comfort on the ball, Lahm won every trophy possible with Bayern Munich. The 37-year old predominantly operated as a right-back, but was converted into a midfielder under the management of Pep Guardiola, where he excelled as well.
Lahm was captain when Germany won the FIFA World Cup in 2014. As skipper of Bayern Munich, he played a crucial role in their treble-winning 2012-13 season. Lahm made 517 appearances in all competitions for Bayern Munich and 113 appearances for Germany before retiring in 2017.
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#4 Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer is the man credited with modernising the art of goalkeeping. The Bayern Munich man's "sweeper-keeper" ability and his excellent passing started the emergence of a new style of goalkeeper.
The 35-year-old, who is the current captain of Bayern Munich and the Germany national team, is regarded as one of the best to have played the game. Neuer is a world-class shot-stopper, but it is his proactive play and accurate distribution which have elevated him to the very top.
Neuer made a considerable impact during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and finished third in the voting for the Ballon d'Or that year. He has 100 caps for Germany, and will be keen to replicate the 2014 World Cup success at the Euros.
#3 Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus has made waves as a football pundit since his retirement, but it is impossible to forget his impact as a player.
A midfielder who began his professional career with Borussia Monchengladbach, Matthaus made appearances for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including two spells with Bayern Munich and a stint with Inter Milan. A box-to-box midfielder with an excellent goalscoring record, Matthaus made 150 appearances in all competitions and scored 69 goals in his first spell with Bayern Munich.
In the latter stages of his career, Matthaus was often utilized as a sweeper. For Germany, he made 150 appearances and was part of the side that won the Euros in 1980 and the FIFA World Cup in 1990. Matthaus retired in 2000 and enjoyed managerial spells with countries like Hungary and Bulgaria.
#2 Gerd Muller
Gerd Muller's phenomenal goalscoring record speaks for itself. One of the best strikers the world has seen, the German was renowned for his finishing and acceleration.
Muller spent much of his playing career with Bayern Munich, where he made 605 appearances in all competitions and scored 563 goals. For the national side he scored 68 goals in just 62 appearances, and won the Euros in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974.
The striker won the Ballon d'Or in 1970 for his performances. Muller held the title for the most goals scored in a single Bundesliga season with 40, but that record was recently broken by Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski.
#1 Franz Beckenbauer
"Der Kaiser" was an elegant centre-back who is regarded by many as the greatest German player of all time.
Franz Beckenbauer spent much of his playing career representing Bayern Munich, where he made 584 appearances in all competitions and scored 75 goals. A midfielder who made his name as a sweeper, Beckenbauer was a dominant force in that position.
With the national team he won the Euros in 1972 and the FIFA World Cup in 1974. He was awarded the Ballon d'Or twice (1972 and 1976). Beckenbauer retired in 1983 and embarked on a managerial career. The 75-year-old managed Bayern Munich twice and also took charge of Marseille for a short while.
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