Contract extension
Tue, 19/12/23, 15:30
Thomas Müller: The best photos of the two-time treble winner, world champion and icon
A man who isn’t just a poster boy for Bayern Munich but the whole of German football. That is, of course, the one and only Thomas Müller, who has just signed a contract extension keeping him at his boyhood club until at least 2025. To mark the occasion, we’re taking a look back at some of the best images of the inimitable Müller.
The best of Thomas Müller
Müller’s famous celebration fist quickly became a feature of his game, seen here after scoring the opening goal for the reserves against Union Berlin in 2008, with Holger Badstuber running over to congratulate him.
Müller scored his first Bundesliga goal for the senior team at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 30 days after coming on at half-time for Mario Gomez away at Borussia Dortmund on 12 September 2009. He opened his account in the 77th minute before the then teenager added a second 10 minutes later.
Müller won his maiden Bundesliga title at the age of 20 back in 2009/10, lifting the Meisterschale on the balcony at Marienplatz with a loud cry for the first of what would end up many times.
One of the most emotional days of Müller’s career as he headed Bayern in front in the 83rd minute of the Champions League final against Chelsea in Munich. But it wasn’t enough to claim the trophy on home soil…
Müller again scored the opening goal in the 2013 semi-final first leg against Barcelona, roaring with delight as the foundation was laid for advancing to the final.
Müller sprinting off after Arjen Robben after Mr Wembley had put Bayern 2-1 ahead against Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final in London.
Bayern would again beat Borussia Dortmund the following year in the DFB Cup final, with Müller using all his remaining strength to wrap things up at 2-0 in extra-time in Berlin.
Reminiscent of the year before at Wembley, Müller chasing after match-winner Mario Götze following his decisive goal in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina in Rio de Janeiro.
Müller was once again the man for important goals, netting in added time to take the 2016 Champions League round of 16 tie with Juventus to extra-time. Bayern went on to win 4-2, with Müller joining in the fans’ celebrations.
Müller had plenty of reasons to celebrate in 2015/16 as he enjoyed his best goalscoring season in the Bundesliga after netting his 20th in the 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach in April.
Müller is always at the centre of celebrations, popping the champagne after beating Borussia Dortmund on penalties in the final on 21 May 2016 to earn Bayern’s 18th DFB Cup.
Deja-vu? Müller is again the first teammate to reach the winning goalscorer in a final after Kingsley Coman’s header to beat Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon in 2020.
“Hand it over!” - Even with nine Bundesliga titles to his name at the time, Müller can’t take his hands off the Meisterschale and is always good for a joke, like his mentor Hermann Gerland.
Müller’s previous contract extension in May 2022 saw him return to his childhood bedroom for a photo inspired by a famous image of him as a young boy.
Müller got his hands on an 11th straight Bundesliga title and 12th overall after Jamal Musiala’s winning goal at Köln in 2023. Nobody can match Müller’s collection of Bundesliga winner’s medals.
And of course that isn’t the end of the Müller photo collection, with yet more to come this season and next at Bayern. The 34-year-old is a leader on and off the pitch, and also never short of a comment. You can have a read through some of his most famous quotes here:
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