His 363rd competitive game for FC Bayern will be his last. For ten years Jerome Boateng shaped the era of success for FC Bayern as one of the world’s best central defenders. A time with more highs, but also lows, hurt feelings and 21 club titles. And the game of his life – in a different jersey.
Leaving FC Bayern after ten years: Jerome Boateng.
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Physiotherapists have a keen sense. Not just for muscles, but for people themselves. In professional football, they are closer to the stars than almost anyone, and have known their bodies and characters by heart over the years. In this respect, your opinion counts. Last week, a video produced by FC Bayern showing Jerome Boateng’s farewell was shown on YouTube, and the warmest words came from physio Christian Huhn, at the end of which he said: “If you ever have problems, the staff team can call us at any time and we will always help you. ” You only offer something like that to someone you like and appreciate.
ups and downs
To help defend itself, FC Bayern signed the then 22-year-old national player from Manchester City in 2011, and made his debut on August 1 in the 3-0 first-time cup win in Braunschweig. The beginning of a success story and yet changeable relationship between club and player. The first season ended with sporting low blows: Vice-champions behind BVB, against Boatengs Bayern also lost the cup final with a 2: 5 crash. Plus the drama in the “Home Final” against Chelsea.
Debut in Braunschweig: Jerome Boateng in a duel with Domi Kumbela.
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But the following year, the first triple was achieved, followed by the second in 2020. With Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, David Alaba and Javi Martinez, Boateng is one of five players who were there both times. Starting in the first triple season, Boateng set a Bundesliga record that is still valid today: Between November 3, 2012 and December 19, 2014, he remained unbeaten in 56 Bundesliga games in a row.
One of the world’s best defenders of the past decade
In the 2013 Champions League final, Boateng hit the precise long ball from his own half, which Franck Ribery put down with a heel on Arjen Robben, who scored for a 2-1 victory. These flying balls, preferably diagonally, have become one of Boateng’s trademarks over the years. In addition to his core business of defending, he mastered the well-groomed structure of the game and thus became one of the world’s best defenders of the past decade. The irony of fate that defensive players often have mistakes or bad scenes sticking to their memories, in the 2015 Champions League semi-finals Lionel Messi Boateng, who was lying helplessly on the ground, danced out. The video is still circulating on the net today, Boateng can now laugh about it, it finally happened against the best of his time. But Boateng can call himself world champion, Messi not – also because of Boateng.
“Player of the Game” in the World Cup final
Defenders often go empty-handed when it comes to awards, while goals and spectacles prefer offensive players. At Boateng, however, two honors stand out. He completed the best of his 76 international matches in the World Cup final in Rio, the kicker rewarded this performance in the 1-0 win against Argentina with a straight one and the classification as “Player of the Game”. Weeks later he said on the phone to kicker when he was privately preparing for preparation in Los Angeles: “I’ve played the game of my life.” Two years later, after he fought his way to the European Championship just in time after a serious injury, Germany’s sports journalists deservedly voted him Footballer of the Year 2016.
Injuries and dissatisfaction
Physiotherapist Christian Huhn treats Jerome Boateng.
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In the lost EM semi-final against France, Boateng injured himself again, difficult years began. The worst hit was a shoulder injury sustained in December 2016, but after his comeback in March it took him a long time to get back to his old level. It was the time when the disagreements between the club and Boateng increased. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recommended that he come “back to earth”. The bosses disliked Boateng’s private activities off the pitch, the player would have wished for more appreciation and support, such as Franck Ribery always enjoyed with private problems.
Hoeneß recommended a change to Boateng
Boateng dealt with a farewell for the first time in the summer of 2018. José Mourinho wanted to bring him to Manchester United, but Boateng moved to Paris St. Germain with Thomas Tuchel. The change failed shortly before close, also because the new coach Niko Kovac Boateng promised a major role. When Boateng saw himself demoted to third central defender behind Niklas Süle and Mats Hummels at the beginning of the following second half of the season, it hit the sensitive Boateng hard, it offended him, Kovac had broken his word in his eyes. After the last game of the season in the presence of his twin daughters, he only watched the cheering of his teammates from a distance like an innocent bystander, Uli Hoeneß recommended him a change. The tablecloth seemed finally cut. But even in the summer of 2019, a farewell did not materialize, Juventus Turin was long considered a goal.
Under Flick things went up again
Boateng stayed again and fought his way back. A comeback that not many had believed him capable of and that was closely related to Hansi Flick. Under the coach, Boateng worked his way out of a longer form, looked fit again and was soon a mainstay of the team that was to win six titles within a year. Boateng was characterized by comeback qualities over the years at FC Bayern. In the said YouTube video, he rates the Champions League triumph in 2020 a little higher than the first in 2013, even if he suffered early injuries in the final against Paris St. Germain. “When very few people believed in you and you were on the ground, you got up and gave everything to be successful again. Hats off, these are true champions,” says Physio Huhn. Boateng seems visibly touched by these words.
In contrast to Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels, national coach Jogi Löw did not bring Boateng back into the national team for the upcoming EM. Time to clarify the future, which is probably abroad. Boateng could still have a few good years. And if there are any problems, he knows who to turn to.
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