Top five Bayern Munich midfielders of the century

Bastian Schweinsteiger

The first one on the list is none other than Bastian Schweinsteiger. After coming through the youth academy of Bayern, Schweinsteiger went on to establish himself as one of the best central midfielders of his generation.

Schweinsteiger started his career as a wide player and continued to play in that role till the arrival of Louis Van Gaal in Bavaria. The Dutch manager decided to move Schweinsteiger in the center of the park due to his tenacity and passing attributes. A positional change that started as an experiment ended up becoming a defining moment in the German midfielder’s career.

Van Gaal moved him permanently to the midfield position. Schweinsteiger’s immaculate passing range and calmness on the ball made him an asset to Bayern. He also played as a number six in few games, shielding the back four and dictating the tempo of the game. His switch to midfield acted as a foundation for Die Roten’s success in the last two decades.

Apart from being a phenomenal midfielder, Schweinsteiger was a leader on the pitch. Along with providing a strong presence in midfield, he also acted as a leader and driving force of the team. His career at Bayern ended on a sour note as he left the club to join Manchester United in 2015, but Schweinsteiger will always go down as one of the most influential midfielders in Bayern’s history. The German will have many memories to cherish during his time at the club.