After 503 Bundesliga Games, Thomas Müller Era Comes To An End

The curtain on a remarkable Bundesliga career has come down. On Saturday, Thomas Müller played his last game in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich against 1899 Hoffenheim.

In what is perhaps his last game in the German topflight forever, Bayern beat Hoffenheim 4-0 in front of 30,150 fans at a completely sold out PreZero Arena thanks to goals by Michael Olise (33’), Joshua Kimmich (54’), Serge Gnabry (80’), and Harry Kane (86’).

The moment of the game, however, arrived in the 61st minute when Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany brought off Müller for Kane. At that moment, the entire stadium reached its feet for a standing ovation.

“Many things,” Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich said when asked what would be missed without Müller in the squad. “Just look at the stadium, everyone got up. That underlines that Müller isn’t just a big player at Bayern but also respected by opponents.”

It was certainly a beautiful moment. “To be applauded by other teams is something that we recognize, especially as national team players,” Kimmich said. “Thomas also earned it. He wasn’t just a representative of Bayern Munich but all of Germany.”

For Müller a remarkable Bundesliga career comes to an end. Müller ranks 12th overall with 503 Bundesliga games, 17th with 150 goals and first with 211 assists. No player in history has won more than Müller’s 13 Bundesliga titles.

Müller’s 751 games across all competitions are a club record for Bayern Munich. The playmaker has played 42 games more than second-placed Sepp Maier. And although his Bundesliga career is ending today, Müller can increase his lead as the club’s record player at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

There is a chance that the Club World Cup in the United States could also help decide Müller’s future. “I think the next few weeks will give my ideas some direction,” Müller said in an interview last week.

“The Club World Cup will be an exciting experience,” Müller added. “Of course, I am listening to offers from the United States.” At the same time, Müller doesn’t have a clear-cut strategy about his future. “I was never the type who said: ‘this is my only idea that’s how we have to do it.’”

Interest from Major League Soccer in Müller has been high. However, whether Müller will add another chapter to his playing career remains to be seen.

Either way, in an ideal world, Müller will add another seven games and a trophy to his remarkable Bayern Munich career at the Club World Cup. “It is certainly a goal that we have,” goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said after the Hoffenheim game.

Finishing top with another big title would be a remarkable end for Müller at Bayern Munich. But even if that isn’t the case, Bayern’s no.25 will always remain a Bundesliga legend and join a pantheon of Bayern greats that include Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Paul Breitner, Uli Hoeneß, Sepp Maier, Lothar Matthäus, and many more.

An earlier version of this article had Müller at 502 games. Correct is 503. The story has been updated accordingly.