Philipp Lahm

Philipp Lahm (born 11 November 1983) is a German former professional footballer who played as a full-back or midfielder. Considered one of the finest full-backs ever, he captained Bayern Munich for many years, guiding the club to a treble that included the 2013 UEFA Champions League. He also served as captain of the German national team, leading them to victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup before retiring from international duty. Lahm was named to the World Cup team of the tournament three times (2006, 2010, 2014), the UEFA Team of the Tournament twice (2008, 2012), and the UEFA Team of the Year five times (2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014). With 113 caps, he ranks eighth all-time for Germany.

Lahm joined Bayern Munich’s youth setup at age 11 after being scouted by Jan Pienta while playing for his local team in Gern, Munich. Coaches saw him as exceptionally gifted; Hermann Hummels remarked that if Lahm could not make it in the Bundesliga, no one could. He won the Bundesliga youth title twice, captaining the team the second time, and moved to the B team at 17. Amateur coach Hermann Gerland called him the most talented player he ever coached and made him B-team captain in his second season. At this stage, Lahm played as a defensive midfielder, right midfielder, or right full-back.

He debuted for Bayern’s first team on 13 November 2002 as a late substitute in a 3–3 Champions League draw with Lens. With established full-backs Willy Sagnol and Bixente Lizarazu ahead of him, and a crowded midfield, Lahm made no further appearances that season. He was loaned to VfB Stuttgart for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 campaigns to gain Bundesliga experience.

At Stuttgart, Lahm was initially a backup for right-back Andreas Hinkel, but coach Felix Magath moved him to left-back, where he displaced German international Heiko Gerber. He made his Bundesliga debut as a substitute against Hansa Rostock on the opening day of the 2003–04 season. His first full 90-minute match came against Borussia Dortmund on matchday six, and he soon became Stuttgart’s regular left-back. On 29 September 2003, he started a Champions League match for the first time, against Manchester United. He scored his first Bundesliga goal on 3 April 2004 in a 5–1 win at VfL Wolfsburg. That season, he played 31 league matches and seven in the Champions League, finishing second in the Germany Footballer of the Year vote.

His second season at Stuttgart was tougher. After Euro 2004, a shorter break and preseason left him struggling to adapt to new coach Matthias Sammer’s tactics. Still, he made 16 Bundesliga appearances before Christmas, 14 of them full matches, plus six in the UEFA Cup. In January 2005, a stress fracture in his right foot sidelined him for four months. He returned on 9 April against Schalke 04, but about five weeks later tore his cruciate ligament, ending his season and his time at Stuttgart.

Lahm returned to Bayern Munich in July 2005 but began with rehabilitation due to the cruciate injury. He returned to action in late November, playing twice for the B team before making his first Bundesliga appearance for Bayern against Arminia Bielefeld. In the 2005–06 season, he played 20 league games and three in the Champions League, sharing time with Lizarazu.

In 2006–07, Lahm played all 34 Bundesliga matches and nine of ten Champions League games, substituted only twice. He was the team’s only left-back and delivered solid performances during a poor season for Bayern. He scored his first goal for the club on 20 August 2006 in a 2–1 win at VfL Bochum.

For 2007–08, Bayern signed left-back Marcell Jansen, and Lahm was expected to move to the right to replace Willy Sagnol. Injuries to both players meant Lahm mostly stayed on the left, though he repeatedly expressed a desire to play on the right. Transfer rumors linked him to Barcelona, but on 16 May 2008 he signed a new contract with Bayern through June 2012.

Lahm’s most prolific scoring season came in 2008–09, with three Bundesliga goals and one in the DFB-Pokal. However, Bayern struggled overall that year.