Bayern Munich's team of the decade

Bayern have had plenty of success this decade
Bayern have had plenty of success this decade

Since 2012, no one other than Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga title. That dominance and success has been propped up by immense talent that has flowed into the club ranks.

There has been a conscious effort by the club to ensure that a strong spine of players always props up this team and the last few years have seen a transition of sorts but largely they've managed to maintain a high calibre of players.

Perhaps the most prized crown of all was the treble that came early this decade for Bayern under Jupp Heynckes and they've been trying to replicate the same since. Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, and Niko Kovac have all failed in the quest to bring European glory back to Bavaria but the club continues to plan it's future.

That process means that the next decade may be drastically different from this one for Bayern Munich. Although, the high standards that we expect from the club will most likely be maintained.


Defence

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

A gamechanger in the goalkeeping position
A gamechanger in the goalkeeping position

The man who redefined how modern goalkeepers play has been the lynchpin of this Bayern Munich team since he joined the club in 2011. 355 appearances over the last 8 years don't describe the impact Manuel Neuer had not only on the club but the footballing world.

His bravery in playing out of the back created a platform for others to follow the lead. The sweeper keeper has no competition in this place.

Left-Back: David Alaba

David Alaba still has the same energy and skill he had when he joined Bayern at the start of the decade
David Alaba still has the same energy and skill he had when he joined Bayern at the start of the decade

It's going to be strange when David Alaba retires. He's had a hold on the left-back position most of the decade. Even when he was displaced by Pep Guardiola, it was to move him into midfield rather than take him out of this team.

Now with the emergence of Alphonso Davies, he's sharing time with a youngster but he's still as effective as he was 10 years ago. Over the years he's been linked with many clubs but Bayern Munich have done well to keep him and he's repaid that faith.

Centre-Back: Jerome Boateng

Jerome Boateng has been a dependable rock at the back for Bayern
Jerome Boateng has been a dependable rock at the back for Bayern

The name conjures up images of him almost comically going to ground as Lionel Messi glided past him to score. Despite that lasting image, Boateng has built a career on being dependable at the back.

He is adept at passing the ball into midfield even under pressure and gets the odd goal from set-pieces but his decision-making and turn of pace are his real strength.

The fact that he's continued to play for Bayern while others have come and gone is no mean feat, but it's down to his ability that he's got the accolades.

Centre-Back: Javi Martinez

Jabi Martinez has imposed his presence on this Bayern side since he arrived in 2012
Jabi Martinez has imposed his presence on this Bayern side since he arrived in 2012

Many might raise an eyebrow at this, but he's been a faithful servant of the club since he arrived in 2012. He played a big role in that treble-winning season and has continued to play important roles under different managers.

His versatility has been his strength as he provided solutions in different areas to all managers who've come through at Bayern Munich.

While the likes of Dante, Holger Badstuber, and Nicklas Sule have come and gone, Martinez has provided solidity at the back.

Right-Back: Philipp Lahm

Lahm has become synonymous with Bayern Munich
Lahm has become synonymous with Bayern Munich

An absolute legend of the club who's since retired, but not before he registered a staggering 517 appearances for the club.

Philipp Lahm led the club when they lost the 2012 Champions League Final and he led them once again the next season when they made the treble.

Any fears that Pep Guardiola may sideline him were put to rest when the Spanish coach hailed his intelligence on the pitch.

He continued to be a stalwart for Bayern Munich right up to the day he retired.

Midfield

Central Midfielder: Joshua Kimmich

Whether it's marauding forward or tracking back, Kimmich has shown plenty of calibre to fill the gaps
Whether it's marauding forward or tracking back, Kimmich has shown plenty of calibre to fill the gaps

Hailed as the replacement for Philipp Lahm, Joshua Kimmich is living up to the billing in many ways. Perhaps not the leader that Lahm was (at least not yet), but he ahs every once of talent and ability.

He's been rotated between central midfield and the right-back position just as his predecessor was, and can be just as devastating in both positions.

He looks a big part fo the Bayern future and if he continues to play this way could repeat the legacy of Lahm.

Central Midfielder: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bastian Schweinsteiger never shied away from showing his emotions
Bastian Schweinsteiger never shied away from showing his emotions

He started his career on the wing but gradually made his way to the centre of midfield and stayed there. Bastian Schweinsteiger was the heart for Bayern Munich when he was on the pitch.

He felt the pulse of the team and kept them going with his incessant running. He took up good positions to receive the ball and play it forward. He could do a little bit of everything, including scoring some screamers from midfield.

Although, perhaps he was loved so much because you always knew as a spectator how he was feeling on the pitch because it was so visible on his face and body language.

Raumdeuter: Thomas Muller

He refused to be defined by a position and created his own
He refused to be defined by a position and created his own

You could call him an attacking midfielder, you could call him a winger, a striker or a second striker and you couldn't be sure of it. Thomas Muller seems to have never played by the rules which is why he earned the title of "Raumdeuter".

It loosely translates to an interpreter of space and that's exactly what he's done for the entirety of his career and continues to do so.

He's done it at Bayern Munich since 2008 in the senior team and he shows no signs of stopping.

Attack

Left Winger: Franck Ribery

Franck Ribery has repeatedly shown his calibre regardless of age
Franck Ribery has repeatedly shown his calibre regardless of age

It is a difficult ask to stay at the top of your game for a decade and more, and few have achieved it. It's in that territory that we're speaking for Franck Ribery. He arrived from Marseille in 2007 and has been dribbling past players ever since.

The French maestro found a way away from home in a different culture and with a different style fo play and has never looked back.

Right Winger: Arjen Robben

A treble-winning goal from Arjen Robben
A treble-winning goal from Arjen Robben

The other half of that attacking force down the wing was the flying Dutchman Arjen Robben. When these two absolute beasts were blazing down the wings, gaps seemed to open up on their own.

Robben will be remembered for his trademark cut inside and finish but there was so much more to his play.

He could turn defenders inside out with his dribbling, and his sense of movement combined with blistering pace meant that if you gave him an inch, he would take a mile.

Striker: Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski is breaking all kinds of records with Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski is breaking all kinds of records with Bayern Munich

The more you say about him, the less it feels. It seems like Robert Lewandowski should stop at some point like this season will be the last that he scores a ridiculous number of goals.

Yet, every season he seems to take it up a notch. Bayern Munich will be particularly proud of this scalp from Borussia Dortmund as the Polish striker continues to rack up goals for the Bavarians as he has done for most of the last 5 years at Bayern.

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Edited by Zaid Khan