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Rightly regarded as one of the most powerful clubs in world football today, Bayern Munich have always worked hard to retain their fearsome reputation. Over the past decade the club have produced a brilliant crop of world class players in the form of Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller, along with promising future prospects like Julian Green waiting to make their mark for the Bavarians.However Bayern would not be the club they are today if it wasn’t for some legendary players who helped shape the foundation that the club proudly rests on. Read up this list of the best Bayern Munich players to find out who these awesome characters are.
#1 Franz Beckenbauer
You cannot have a best Bayern Munich players list without placing Beckenbauer at the top as the legendary defender played like he was from another planet during his time with the Bavarians. During his cherished 13 year spell with Bayern, Beckenbauer was the club’s rock at the back and completely redefined the role of a sweeper in football.
The German could not only shield Bayern from the oppositions attacks but could also bomb forward and score a few goals himself. The man who won the World Cup as both a player and a coach lifted a plethora of silverware with Bayern including four Bundesliga titles, four DFB Pokals and three European Cups among other trophies. Beckenbauer, a two time Ballon d’Or winner, won everything there is to win as a player and a coach which is why he deserves to lead this list.
#2 Gerd Muller
Undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers to ever kick a football, Gerd Muller was truly a phenomenon at Bayern Munich. A beast in the penalty box, Muller scored an astounding 566 goals in 607 appearances during his 14 year spell with the Bavarians. Muller’s acceleration and agility combined with his clinical finishing helped him propel Munich to great heights.
The 1974 World Cup winner helped Bayern win four Bundesliga titles, four DFB Pokals and three European Cups among other trophies. Der Bomber’s genius will probably never be reproduced at Bayern but fortunately for them the legend’s namesake Thomas Muller is a genius in his own right.
#3 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Bayern’s current CEO was also one of the most lethal strikers to ever put on a red shirt. Rummenigge was blessed with outstanding dribbling and striking qualities which led to him scoring 162 goals in 310 appearances during his decade long spell with the Bavarians. The prolific striker helped Bayern win two Bundesliga titles and three European Cups among other trophies along with being declared the Bundesliga’s top scorer on three occasions.
#4 Sepp Maier
Long before Oliver Kahn came on the scene Bayern Munich witnessed the heroics of the legendary Sepp Maier. The iconic World Cup winning goalkeeper was a part of the legendary Bayern side that won three consecutive European Cups in the ‘70s and appeared in 442 consecutive Bundesliga matches which is an unbroken record.
Maier’s shot stopping skills and reflexes were so outstanding that he was nicknamed Die Katz von Anzing which means ‘The Cat From Anzing.’ The goalkeeper would have certainly gone on to achieve much more if it weren’t for some serious injuries caused by a car accident that forced him to call time on his career.
#5 Oliver Kahn
The name you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. Bayern Munich wouldn’t have achieved so much in the early part of the millenium if it weren’t for the heroics of Der Titan.
Kahn is the only goalkeeper in history to be awarded the Golden Ball at the World Cup. His skills as a goalkeeper were so extraordinary that he won numerous awards for his abilities and is widely regarded as one of the best in the history of the game.
The legendary shot stopper helped Bayern win eight Bundesliga titles, 6 DFB Pokals and one Champions League among other trophies. Manuel Neuer is keeping Kahn’s legacy alive but the man himself can never be replaced.
#6 Lothar Matthaus
Germany’s all time appearance maker is also one of the best players Bayern Munich ever had on their books. Matthaus was undoubtedly Bayern Munich’s most consistent player during his two spells at the club. The World Cup winning captain helped Bayern lift seven Bundesliga titles, three DFB Pokals and one UEFA Cup among other trophies.
Matthaus, who is the only German player to date to receive the FIFA World Player Of The Year award, was Bayern’s best sweeper since Franz Beckenbauer and will always be remembered for his contributions on the pitch.
#7 Uli Hoeness
The 1974 World Cup winner was not the most prolific striker of his time but was always dependable and scored some crucial goals for Bayern during his nine year spell with the club. An injury caused Hoeness to retire at just 27 which was probably before he reached his peak and would have probably been a much greater player if fate had been kinder.
All that aside Hoeness helped Bayern win three Bundesliga titles and was a part of the team that won three successive European Cups. Hoeness also served as Bayern Munich’s general manager before he was forced to step down from his position due to tax evasion charges.
#8 Mehmet Scholl
An immensely gifted playmaker, Scholl was a driving force for Munich during his 15 year long spell with the club. Although he was an integral part of the Bayern sides that won trophy after trophy Scholl hasn’t been given his proper due which is extremely unfair. With him pulling strings from midfield Bayern won eight Bundesliga titles, five DFB Pokals and one Champions League among other trophies. His haul of eight Bundesliga titles is matched only by Oliver Kahn which highlights his greatness as a player.
#9 Philipp Lahm
The highly versatile German can operate in a number of positions and possesses outstanding skills which have rightly earned him the moniker of the ‘Magic Dwarf.’ The World Cup winner has been an integral part of his hometown club since 2002 and has helped them win six Bundesliga titles, six DFB Pokals, one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup among other trophies.
Despite being just 5’7”, Lahm possesses some outstanding tackling abilities which make him a successful anchor for the team.
#10 Bastian Schweinsteiger
Regarded as the face of Bayern Munich, Schweinsteiger has played a vital part in the club’s domination of Europe in recent years. The immensely talented midfielder is blessed with incredible skill and is capable of completely dictating play in the centre of the park. Schweinsteiger’s skills as a midfielder have led to the nickname ‘The midfield mastermind’.
The 30-year-old has helped Bayern win seven Bundesliga titles, seven DFB Pokals and one Champions League among other trophies. The magician still has plenty of good years left in him and could very well overtake Kahn and Matthaus in terms of success.
