Hermann Gerland is one of the most important figures in the mythos of Bayern Munich today. He coached the youth team in the era that spawned some of the club’s biggest stars, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, and David Alaba. Since then, his influence, first as a youth team coach and later as the assistant coach to several managers (including two treble winners) cements his legacy as one of the greatest pillars of a modern heavyweight of the sport.
Speaking to FC Bayern’s official website, Gerland gave his former club a poignant reminder about the value of one of his most exceptional proteges, Thomas Müller.
Mr Gerland, you coached Thomas Müller in his youth. What makes him so special?
“There’s something missing when Thomas Müller isn’t there. It’s always been like that. He’s been scoring goal after goal since he was young – but that’s only part of his outstanding skills. Thomas has a gift: the right intuition, on and off the pitch. An incredibly clever person, a gift for every team, every club.”
Could you elaborate on his skills?
“It’s his intuition. A unique intuition for the situation at hand. You can’t explain it, you can’t learn it. You can’t confront him on the pitch, and he always knows exactly what to do off the pitch too. I remember him when he was young: Thomas and David Alaba always pushed. Such players have a positive mindset in every training session and infect the whole team with it. Others hung their heads for minutes after a bad pass. After a poor performance, Thomas would say: ‘Tiger, I’ll turn in a top display in the next match!’ That’s the right mindset for success. He confirms my view that it pays off to train hard in your youth. People who look at Thomas tend to think he’d collapse after two metres. As if. More than 700 appearances as an FC Bayern pro, that says everything!”
What’s his place in international top-class football?
“Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo play spectacularly. Thomas Müller plays unspectacularly but incredibly well! Not only has he been among the international top players for almost two decades, he’s also player like no other. Nobody could foresee this career, but Thomas Müller absolutely deserves his place in the history of FC Bayern and football alongside Munich legends like Franz Beckenbauer or Gerd Müller. Thomas Müller represents the modern FC Bayern.”
Right now, said representative of the modern FC Bayern finds himself unable to secure a position in the club’s starting XI under new coach Vincent Kompany.
With the return of the Bundesliga, Thomas Müller was benched for the opener despite scoring twice against SSV Ulm the week prior, and his excellent cameo role (which played a key part in overturning the 2-1 deficit to deliver a 3-2 win over Wolfsburg) did not earn him a starting position against SC Freiburg. He still went on to come on as a substitute, and scored an excellent goal in his record-breaking appearance.
With the international break now underway, Vincent Kompany will have time to reconsider his position on one of the most experienced players at his disposal. With Müller himself actively campaigning for a starting XI berth, it’s a question of whether the coach will see the solution staring him in the face.
Looking to catch-up on Bayern Munich’s weekend, plus a breakdown of how each Bundesliga match played out? Great, then check out the latest episode of Bavarian Podcast Works — The Bundesliga Rundown with Marcus Iredahl. You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
