VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller is a Bayern Munich campus product that has gone on to prove his mettle and show that he is both a worthy Bundesliga starter and German national team pool player.
It was not always this way as Stiller had trouble finding a way to consistent playing time with the first team on Säbener Straße under coach Hansi Flick. When asked if he held any bitterness toward Flick about not breaking through in Bayern, Stiller indicated that was not the case.
“No, that had nothing to do with him, I also got a few appearances, and I’m grateful to him for that to this day. Hansi Flick was the coach who gave me my professional debut,” Still told Sport Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “I was never angry at him or FC Bayern, that would be the wrong attitude to have. I like the club far too much for that.”
At the time, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso, Marc Roca, and Javi Martinez were ahead of Stiller on depth chart, while Maximilian Zaiser, Tiago Dantas, and Michaël Cuisance were also young players in the mix at one point or another during that season.
In the end, Stiller landed on his feet, but it does show how difficult life can for a young player at Bayern Munich. Who knows? Maybe one day Stiller will be back playing for the Bavarians once again.
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