#4 Lothar Matthaus:
In 2 spells lasting a total of 11 years, Lothar Matthaus was the driving force for the Bayern Munich midfield – the glue that held them together and enabled them to win 7 Bundesliga titles in his time at the club.
Initially having graduated from the youth system of FC Herzogenaurach and spending 5 years at Borussia Moenchengladbach, Lothar signed for Bayern for his first spell in 1984 for a sum of 1.2 million euros, quite a significant amount at the time.
He was instrumental in leading them to 3 Bundesliga titles and an appearance in the UEFA Champions League final in 1986-87. The final was a rather unfair blow to him, as Bayern conceded 2 late goals after his substitution from the game and lost to Porto from a winning position.
After his initial spell, Internazionale swooped for him in 1988 and paid 3.6 million euros. Bayern bought him back from Inter in 1992 for 2 million, and this time, he stayed at the club for a longer period, helping them re-establish themselves as a European powerhouse once more.
He got another crack at the Champions League title in the 1998-99 season, when once again Bayern conceded late goals against Manchester United and let another European crown slip from their grip, after his substitution. His appearance in the Champions League final was his last for Bayern, as he moved to USA to play for MetroStars.
