Goalkeeper: Hans-Jörg Butt (FC Bayern) –The Bundesliga’s great penalty taking goalkeeper enjoyed something of an Indian summer in 2009-10. In 2008-09 the 36 year-old stopper was playing 2nd fiddle to Michael Rensing in the Munich nets. After winning his place back with some highly dependable displays this season, he looks to have also won a place in Germany’s World Cup squad as 3rd choice keeper. Add league and cup winners medals to that and Butt’s season couldn’t have gone much better.
Right Back: Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern) – At only 26, Lahm has become a key, influential figure in the Bayern dressing room. Traditionally a right-footed left back with a tendency to cut in from the left onto his stronger foot, he was converted to right back this season by coach Louis van Gaal. This has enabled him to make use of his attacking instincts and at the same time provide more width down the right hand side than he usually would down the left, thus improving the shape of the team.
Left Back: Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern) – League winners, cup winners, Champions League runners-up. Not a bad debut season for the 20 year-old defender. A product of Bayern’s youth system, Badstuber debuted at centre-half and looked a little bit uncertain. His talent was never in question however. His wand of a left foot ensured highly accurate set-piece delivery and one stunning goal. He was shifted mid-season to left-back, which allowed him to make best use of those talents without being so exposed defensively. A late-call up to the provisional German World Cup squad was a confirmation of what a great season he’s had with Bayern. A promising prospect for the future.
Centre Back: Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) – I first noticed Hummels in the U21 Euro final where he completely nullified the threat of Theo Walcott. The timing of his tackles was impeccable. In the subsequent season at Dortmund he’s proved that was no one off. He has also shown an excellent ability to read the game for one so young (still only 21) and he has proved a useful weapon at attacking set-pieces, with 5 goals to his name. Another product of Bayern’s youth system, the Bavarians will be kicking themselves for letting him go.
Centre Back: Sami Hyypia (Bayer Leverkusen) – Despite trailing off to finish 4th in the 2nd half of the season, Leverkusen were nothing short of excellent for a large part of the campaign, leading the league until February with a young side and an attacking brand of football. Along with coach Jupp Heynckes, Hyypia was acknowledged by many of Leverkusen’s promising young players as being crucial in their success. Their ‘On-field coach’, as described by their goalkeeper, Rene Adler.
Right Midfield: Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen) – Another product of FC Bayern’s youth system, Kroos was loaned out to Leverkusen to gain 1st team experience. Many youth players who leave Bayern on loan never make it back. Kroos’ excellent performances in Leverkusen’s midfield however have left Bayern’s hierarchy in no doubt that he’ll return to the Allianz Arena when he gets back from South Africa (he is in the provisional squad). This boy is going to be a star. Whilst he lacks a yard of pace, he has everything else in his locker to become a world class attacking midfielder: he can beat a man, pick a pass, get his fair share of goals and he is a dead ball wizard.
Left Midfield: Arjen Robben (FC Bayern) – Took over from Franck Ribery as Bayern’s talisman this year, he was always there to pop up with a goal or a moment of supreme inspiration just when Bayern needed him. Highly doubtful Bayern’s season would’ve been so successful if they hadn’t signed this flying Dutchman for €25 million in August. He was without doubt the best player in German football this season.
Defensive Central Midfield: Joel Matip (FC Schalke) – Whilst Mark van Bommel was probably the most impressive performer in this position. It’s up to me to pick this team and here I’m taking the ‘Give Youth a Chance’ philosophy. Matip is destined for the top. Made his debut, and scored his 1st goal, away at the mighty Bayern, at the ripe old age of 18. Since then the German-born Cameroon international hasn’t been a regular in the Schalke line-up, but, when called upon, has always impressed with his composure on the ball and his knack for grabbing goals at set-pieces.
Attacking Central Midfield: Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen) – Another star in the making. Quite simply, if 90 minutes went by without Özil either creating or scoring a goal for Werder Bremen, it was a genuine surprise. Possessing similar attributes to Kroos, in addition to being a more powerful runner, he is slightly ahead of the Munich man in the national team pecking order and is a rumoured target of Arsenal and Manchester City. He could make himself a household name this summer in South Africa.
Centre Forward: Thomas Müller (FC Bayern) – Takes the number of Bayern youth products in this team to 5. Like Badstuber, the 20 year-old has excelled in his 1st full season and booked a (provisional) ticket to South Africa. His knack for popping up with goals (he netted 13 this season) has led fans and media to compare him to his namesake, ‘Der Bomber’, Gerd Muller. As well as an excellent goalscoring instinct, ‘Der Neue Bomber’ is versatile. He can operate wide on the left or right, at centre-forward, or in the hole just behind a front man (probably his best position). Another future star.
Centre Forward: Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund) – Most German football fans would probably have picked Kevin Kuranyi or Stefan Kiessling to partner Mueller. However, to come from the Chilean league and handle the cultural and linguistic differences, not to mention differences in style and quality of football, and still post 19 goals, is a remarkable achievement. ‘La Pantera’ probably doesn’t have any particularly outstanding attributes, other than the unerring ability to find the net. In a Dortmund team that is developing very nicely under Juergen Klopp, Barrios has formed a good understanding with Mohamed Zidan. He won’t be travelling to South Africa with Argentina, but don’t bet against him rocking up in a Paraguay shirt.
Geoff Edwards
Geoff Edwards is a football-mad Englishman who fell in love with a German girl, moved to Germany, and then fell in love with German football (much to the chagrin of said German girl). He can be found most Saturdays in German pubs watching ‘Bundesliga Konferenz’ or at home, looking for creative ways to follow Everton FC on the internet.
The few Bundesliga matches I was able to watch this year featured some combination of Bayern, Bremen, Leverkeusen, Wolfsburg and Schalke. So, I didn't get to see Hummels or Barrios.
In the 2 or 3 matches that Leverkeusen were in, Kroos was largely absent. I can only remember him making me sit up and take notice one time and have largely wondered what all the fuss was about. Hyppia, on the other hand, was always good for an admiring laugh. His legs are almost gone. He runs about like some granny driving in 2nd gear in the left hand land. Yet, he is rarely caught out of position and is regularly the source of a Leverkeusen buildup that leads to a goal.
As for Schalke, it would seem you have taken Joachim Low's side and left Kevin Kuranyi off your squad. I expected him to be one of your strikers given the way he has carried Schalke this year.
That is the beauty of these lists, though. They are subjective and we all have our own opinions. Well done.
Posted by mpalazzotto | 23 May, 2010, 22:00Martin, I guess you just caught Kroos on at the wrong times, the boy is going to be huge!
Regarding Kuranyi, I did of course consider him, but I just think the achievements of Mueller and Barrios have eclipsed his. It was Mueller's 1st full season and he was arguably Bayern's best striker in a double (almost treble)-winning team and he's probably got himself a ticket to South Africa. As I said in my piece, Barrios made a big jump from the Chilean league, in terms of culture, language and style and quality of football, and yet he still outscored Kuranyi. I think Schalke were carried more by their manager (Felix Magath) than Kuranyi.
Posted by geoffedwards | 24 May, 2010, 10:14Hyypia was simply brilliant this season and I think a lot of Leverkusen's problems came in games when he was absent towards the end of the season. I have heard a lot of Liverpool fans questioning why we let him leave as they think if he could do such a good job for Leverkusen then why couldn't he do it for Liverpool. I think the difference in the style of play has really helped him. Defenders get more time here and Hyypia is allowed to do what he does best – orchestrate from the back.
Posted by Matt Dalton | 24 May, 2010, 13:45Raf Honigstein just named his Bundesiga team of the year in the Guardian in this article:http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/may/…
Different to mine but we're sharing the same views on the back 4!
Posted by geoffedwards | 27 May, 2010, 17:24kroos is really a product of the hansa rostock youth team, in fairness. he only moved to bayern when he was 18. good article tho
Posted by daniel | 5 June, 2010, 08:37Daniel, thanks for straightening that out. A hole in my reasearch it seems
Shame Rostock couldn't hold onto him a couple of years longer and get a proper fee for him.
Posted by geoffedwards | 30 June, 2010, 22:04