Lothar Matthaus: The Best Defensive Midfielder To Grace The Field

Many of you know Diego Maradona. Well, almost all of you know him. It was a silly question. He was almost unstoppable. No defender could stop him in his tracks. But the legend is, there was someone, who could stop Diego Maradona. And that was, Lothar Matthaus. He was called the "Der Panzer", which if you translate in English, it'll mean, the tank. Yes he was known as a tank. Today I will talk about this tanks.

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Lothar Matthaus was crazy for football since a very young age. So eventually he started his career at 1. FC Herzogenaurach at youth level. Then Borussia Monchengladbach scouted him and offered him a contract many years later since he joined his youth club at 10 years of age. He debuted for the senior team and played some 162 matches afterwards. Scoring around 36 goals. All this was before his transfer to Bayern Munich where he officially became what he is. Even there too he played around 100+ games and scored 50+ goals. This was phase one. Because he did went on a detour to other clubs besides Bayern. Matthaus was more of a sweeper role. And in the '80s, when Matthaus was a regular for the German national team, it was him who controlled the middle of the park. he would stay back with the defense as a cover shadow when his fellow midfielders pushed forward. A few years later after his transfer to Bayern Munich, the detour I was talking about, Lothar Matthaus went to Inter Milan. Even in the serie A he also played 100+ games. And his goal scoring ratio was more or less the same. He won a few trophies in Italy too. Then he came back to Germany. Back to Bayern Munich. This time he stayed for a longer period but he became more and more defensive. That's why his goal tally is almost half of his other stints whereas games played is almost double. In his years in Germany he won 7 league titles. Along with multiple editions of the DFB pokal and uefa cup and the DFB super cup. Matthaus won it all but the one thing, the joly grail, the champions league. That's something he would long for. He was privileged to play the final twice with Bayern. Once losing to Porto and the other time losing to Manchester United. That was the famous 1999 UEFA champions league final. Where Manchester United won their first champions league under Sir Alex in "Fergie time". He had a brief exposure at the MLS too.

Lothar Matthaus holds a number of records under his belt. He has the most caps for the German national team. He was the first captain of the unified Germany. After the Berlin wall was taken down in 1989. And yes this unified Germany won the 1990 FIFA world cup. And who led it? "Der Panzer" Lothar Matthaus. Matthaus also holds the record of mosr world cups participated in, at 5. Recently a player from Mexico has also reached that milestone. And Ronaldo will also share it, as he has qualified for the 2022 world cup with Portugal. Germany has also won the Euros with him. He has achieved everything in the international level. Leading Germany to a world cup glory was his dream, same as anyone. Like his achievements on a team level, he has also achieved at the personal level. With multiple recognitions from various awards. He was later known as the greatest defensive midfielder to ever grace the game. And yes you might argue on different positions' best ever player, but an argument about the best defensive midfielder in unheard of. Lothar Matthaus was complete. Be it a box to box, be it a destroyer, be it a regista, he has done it all. And all so fluently and effortlessly. The legend now enjoys life as a football team coach now.