Bayern Strikes
Fansided

Bayern Munich: Team of the Decade

By Kiran Thakare

MUNICH, GERMANY - JUNE 02: Fans of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrate winning the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB Cup with their team at Marienplatz on June 2, 2013 in Munich, Germany. One day after beating Stuttgart in the DFB Cup Final and a week after winning the Champions League Final against Dortmund Bayern Muenchen celebrated winning the historical treble of two national and one international title. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - JUNE 02: Fans of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrate winning the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB Cup with their team at Marienplatz on June 2, 2013 in Munich, Germany. One day after beating Stuttgart in the DFB Cup Final and a week after winning the Champions League Final against Dortmund Bayern Muenchen celebrated winning the historical treble of two national and one international title. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 12
Next
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JULY 20: Jerome Boateng of Bayern Muenchen celebrates after the International Champions Cup match between Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid in the 2019 International Champions Cup at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2019, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JULY 20: Jerome Boateng of Bayern Muenchen celebrates after the International Champions Cup match between Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid in the 2019 International Champions Cup at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2019, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

Central defender— Jerome Boateng

Every team’s success is defined by the strength of their central defensive partnership. In Bayern’s successful years in this decade, Jerome Boateng played a pivotal role in central defense. After a poor spell at Manchester City, Bayern decided to bring Boateng back to Germany at the start of the 2011/12 season.

This transfer turned out to be a bargain for Bayern as Boateng firmly established himself as a key center-back in very less time. Boateng was a rock at the back and was one of the finest central defenders in the world during his first five years at Bayern.

The German defender was a regular member of Bayern’s starting XI during their treble-winning season. His performances improved significantly under Pep Guardiola as he had the ball-playing ability, which is one of the key qualities that the Spanish coach wants in his defenders. Along with composure on the ball, Boateng was equally tenacious off the ball, winning duels with some of the best forwards in the world.

Boateng struggled with injuries and poor form in the past few seasons. He is currently a liability for Bayern whenever he plays as opposition targets his lack of pace. Bayern is currently better without Boateng, but his contribution during the prime years of his career will never overshadow the struggles of the last few seasons.

Home/All-Time Lists