Mark Van Bommel
In 2006, Bayern Munich reached an agreement with Barcelona for the Mark Van Bommel. The Dutch midfielder spent one year with the Spanish club before moving to Bavaria. Van Bommel went on to play a big role for Rekordmeister in the second half of the first decade of the 21st century.
Van Bommel helped Bayern to dictate games and help them end their mini- Bundesliga title drought. He played as a number six for Die Roten, screening the defense with his solid positional awareness. On the ball, Van Bommel had an impressive passing range, helping him to control the tempo of the game.
The Dutch midfielder also went on to lead the first team after Oliver Kahn hung his boots in 2008. During six seasons in Bavaria, Van Bommel managed to help Bayern to win domestic titles. The club also came close to winning the Champions League under his leadership, but Inter Milan got the better of the German club in the final during the 2009/10 season.
Van Bommel will go down as one of the best midfielders in Bayern’s history. He ended his stint in Bavaria at the end of 2010/11 season, racking up 187 appearances across all competitions. The Dutchman managed to team lead the team with his performances during his time at the club, making him one of the most influential foreign players to play for Bayern.