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Bayern Munich – Top five most significant moments of Philipp Lahm’s career

By Benjamin Scott

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 07: Captain Philipp Lahm of Germany looks on during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Semi Final match between Germany and Spain at Durban Stadium on July 7, 2010 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 07: Captain Philipp Lahm of Germany looks on during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Semi Final match between Germany and Spain at Durban Stadium on July 7, 2010 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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BEIJING, CHINA – JULY 17: Philipp Lahm (L) of FC Bayern Munchen talks to the media with Head coach Pep Guardiola during the a press conference at National Stadium in day 1 of the FC Bayern Audi China Summer Pre-Season Tour on July 17, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – JULY 17: Philipp Lahm (L) of FC Bayern Munchen talks to the media with Head coach Pep Guardiola during the a press conference at National Stadium in day 1 of the FC Bayern Audi China Summer Pre-Season Tour on July 17, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) /

Number Four: Playing in midfield under Pep Guardiola

It was always going to be hard for the Bavarians to follow up their treble winning season with more European success. However, the club made a valiant attempt to do so.

In their attempt, they hired Pep Guardiola to take the reigns from retiring Jupp Heynckes. The Spaniard had won nearly everything possible at Barcelona and was ready to do the same with Bayern.

Although Bayern never achieved complete European success under Guardiola, the club’s time with him was nevertheless successful. During his time in Munich, Guardiola tinkered with several of the team’s tactics–some to great success and others not so much.

Of all his tinkering, perhaps his greatest success came in fielding Philipp Lahm in midfield rather than at his preferred right-back position. This is important not because of the success that the move brought, but because of how it highlights Lahm’s ability as an individual player.

As Pep Guardiola noted following Lahm’s retirement announcement,

"“He is one of the most fantastic players I ever trained in my life and one of the most intelligent. “Football is going to miss one of the best players ever. He can play in 10 positions, no problems because he understands the game perfectly.”"

Certainly Lahm is one of the most diverse and mentally gifted players in recent memory. For a coach with a history such as Guardiola’s to sing such high-praise of a player means he surely must be a special talent.

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