Philipp Lahm

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lahm developed into a professional football player within the Bayern Munich Junior Team. He joined the team at the age of 11 after a youth coach, Jan Pienta, had scouted him several times while he was playing for the local youth team in his hometown Gern, Munich. He twice won the Bundesliga youth title, the second time as captain of his team, and then was introduced into the B team at the age of 17. On 13 November 2002, Lahm made his debut for the Bayern Munich first-team as a 92nd-minute substitute in a 3–3 draw with Lens in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. He was loaned to VfB Stuttgart for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons. At Stuttgart, he made his Bundesliga debut on the first day of the 2003–04 season against Hansa Rostock. On 29 September 2003, Lahm made his first Champions League appearance as a starter against Manchester United. On 3 April 2004, he scored his first ever Bundesliga goal in a 5–1 away win for Stuttgart against VfL Wolfsburg. In January 2005, Lahm suffered a stress-fracture in his right foot and was sidelined for four months. Around five weeks after his comeback, he suffered a torn cruciate ligament which ended his season and his career in Stuttgart. Returning to Bayern in July 2005, he made his first professional Bundesliga appearance for Bayern in November 2005 against Arminia Bielefeld. On 20 August 2006, he scored his first goal for the club. After the departure of captain Mark van Bommel in January 2011, Lahm was made the new captain for the remainder of the 2010–11 season and eventually named club captain. In the 2012–13 season, Lahm captained Bayern to an historic treble of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. From the start of the 2013–14 season, under new manager Pep Guardiola, Lahm was utilised as a defensive midfielder.

In Their Own Story

In the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, Lahm captained Germany to a 1–0 victory over Argentina, securing the nation's fourth World Cup title. After the match, he retired from international football, ending his national team career on the highest possible note. His leadership throughout the tournament was marked by calm authority, and his selection to the World Cup team of the tournament for the third consecutive time underscored his enduring quality at the highest level.

Reader's Guide

Lahm played as a full-back or midfielder. He was known for his intelligence, versatility, and leadership. He captained Bayern Munich and the German national team. He was included in the World Cup team of the tournament in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and the UEFA Team of the Tournament in 2008 and 2012 and in the UEFA Team of the Year 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Did You Know?

• Lahm made his debut for Bayern Munich's first team as a 92nd-minute substitute in a Champions League match against Lens on 13 November 2002.
• He scored his first Bundesliga goal on 3 April 2004 in a 5–1 away win for Stuttgart against VfL Wolfsburg.
• Lahm captained Bayern to a treble in the 2012–13 season, including the UEFA Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund.
• He was given the highest fine in Bayern Munich's history (over €25,000) in November 2009 for an unauthorised interview.