Thiago’s farewell to FC Bayern in the summer of 2020 was emotional. So emotional that it seemed out of time, as in the professional football business it is usually the case that top stars in particular only spend a few years with a club before moving on for high transfer fees.
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It was different for Thiago, who played for the German record champions for seven years between 2013 and 2020 – and is celebrating his 33rd birthday today, April 11th. His time at Bayern not only included numerous titles, including the championship seven times, four DFB Cup victories and, as a highlight, the Champions League triumph in 2020. The noble technician played his way into hearts on the pitch, but also off the pitch of the fans and those responsible at Bayern.
So it was hardly surprising that in the summer of 2020 many of them were sad when Thiago announced his decision to leave Munich for Liverpool FC. A very special anecdote showed that the bond between club and player was a very special one, one could say: a love affair.
Former Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge later told how tearful the farewell between him and Thiago had been. After the Spaniard’s transfer to the Reds was a done deal, Rummenigge met the midfield star in the underground car park on the club’s premises on Säbener Straße. “He hugged me and cried for five minutes and said, ‘Thank you for allowing this.’ I was in tears too,” Rummenigge once described on Sky.
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Thiago farewell: “I cried too”
The Bayern official, who is still a member of the record champions’ supervisory board today, praised Thiago as a “great person” who was not only first-class as a player. “This is a big loss, in terms of quality on the pitch, but also as a person. Nevertheless, we accepted that he wanted to do something new. He behaved very well.”
At the time, Thiago shared an emotional video on social media, a compilation of his time at Bayern. In it he also showed that his family felt comfortable and settled in Munich. He wrote: “Forever grateful, FC Bayern! Bavaria will always be a piece of home for me,” and posted Bayern’s very own slogan “#MiaSanMia” and a heart. The video was well received by fans in the comments.
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It is obvious that Bayern could need someone like him today. At that time, the record champions used him in defensive, but especially in central midfield. Watching him wasn’t just a pleasure for Bayern fans. He made passes that others could only dream of. He also enchanted neutral observers with his delicate technique and control, with which he mastered the transition game and made the short passing game look relaxed and easy even in the most stressful game situations. Looseness and control, which FC Bayern is currently lacking in many game situations.
Thiago also left a big impression on Bayern players who are still active today. SPORT1 knows that DFB star Joshua Kimmich in particular is mourning the Spaniard. During their time together – Kimmich has been under contract with the record champions since 2015 – Kimmich learned a lot from the midfield strategist.
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Thiago has bad luck with injuries at Liverpool FC
However, since Thiago left Bayern, bad luck with injuries has dogged him. In his three and a half seasons at Liverpool FC, he has only made 95 appearances across all competitions, dozens more would have been possible. He has a meager three goals and six assists for the Reds.
The current season has been particularly bitter for the 33-year-old so far. A hip injury kept him busy for the entire first half of the season and parts of the second half of the season. On February 4th he celebrated his big comeback after 281 days without a game with a short appearance. He came on as a substitute in the 85th minute in Liverpool FC’s 3-1 win against Arsenal FC.
But then the next shock: During this short assignment, the ex-Bayern star sustained a muscle injury and has been out again ever since. The Spanish sports newspaper Marca therefore headlines: “Thiago Alcántara’s hardest birthday”. The ex-Bayern star had already written a sad record in the previous three years. Injuries to his thigh, knee, hip flexors and calf put him out of action several times.
It therefore remains uncertain whether he will be able to get started again after his recovery. There have been rumors for a long time that Thiago would like to change clubs again, preferably to his home country of Spain. His contract only runs until June 2024.
Pep words legendary: “Thiago or nothing”
How Thiago ended up at Bayern is now legendary. In the summer of 2013, Pep Guardiola, the then new coach of the record champions, expressed his absolute desired transfer with the words “Thiago or nothing”. The then up-and-coming Barca player had already played four seasons for the Blaugrana, including under Guardiola as coach, and celebrated four championships and the 2011 Champions League title with them.
Ultimately, the Munich team signed Thiago for a fee of 25 million euros. By 2020, he had played a total of 235 competitive games, scored 31 goals and added another 37, before moving to Liverpool FC in the summer of 2020 for around 30 million euros.
2024-04-11 16:51:47
#record #champions #missing
