Mats Hummels: Not only his passports were a class in its own

It was less than a year ago that the city of Dortmund, the football nation Germany and beyond Europe were able to convince itself that Mats Hummels has not forgotten anything of its art. Sure, about the lack of pace of the defense lawyer in the sprint duels had long been debated, but now, at 35, the world champion from 2014 showed that he was still able to easily compensate for these deficits with all his qualities.

In the co-phase of the Champions League, he alone ensured that his heart club Borussia Dortmund entered the Wembley final, which was lost after a big fight against Real Madrid. Hummels kept the defense against BVB together with never -tired use and brilliant positioning game, in the semi -finals against Paris he put the blow with a header that sent the opponent on the boards. And then of course these outdoor and surgical precision played out of the room. A feast for the eyes that snaps lovers with their tongue and dreamed of the “emperor” Franz Beckenbauer.

Mats Hummels was also able to punch rustically in the fight for the ball and was also blessed with many gifts – and not just on the soccer field. Outside of the game, he continued to win profile during his impressive career. Talks with him after the 90 minutes were always illuminating and never boring. While many professionals deny the question-answer procedure in the mixed zone and disappear into the cabin without a word, the central defender mostly stopped and stood up to the journalists.

What could then be heard had nothing in common with the custom -made rewind of phrases. The opposite was the case: strong, eloquent, eloquent, charismatic, rhetorically sent. Wherever Hummels appeared, he did as a leader who knew how to explain things with intelligence and humor.

That was refreshing, but could sometimes be exhausting for the decision -makers, because like him never was afraid to represent his point of view even if he was uncomfortable. Again and again Hummels caught in the course of his career, in Dortmund he recently did not get a new contract because he had publicly questioned the professional qualities of his coach Edin Terzic and thus fell out of favor.

And Julian Nagelsmann did not serve at home last year, although Hummels had brought himself into an excellent constitution. Obviously, the national coach attached great importance to harmony in his squad and wanted to prevent any friction. Now he says about the man he recently sorted out: “Mats Hummels set international standards in his best years and has become a role model for a whole generation of defenders.”

Nobody has to surprise so much appreciation because Hummels has announced the end of his career and you put nice words on this occasion. It is typical of a man like Hummels that he also keeps the sovereignty of interpretation on this matter. On Friday afternoon he published a video to see also on Instagram. In it, Hummels says: “I am fighting with the emotions. Now the moment comes that no footballer can get around. After over 18 years with so many things that football gave me, I will end my career in summer.”

Hummels, who in the Bundesliga changed the shoes for the two giants of Munich and Dortmund and cleared a lot of titles, wanted to again succeed in the autumn of his great careers. The commitment to AS Rome was promising until the German had a fatal lap in the European Cup encounter against Athletic Bilbao. After an emergency brake, which he classified as “stupid” and “horribly”, Hummels flew off the pitch.

In the eternal city, Hummels has not been part of the celebrated gladiators since then, to which everyone looks up. At his last station as a professional, he is only a marginal figure that mostly pursues the action from the bank. Something like that is a seasoned man like him, who has always been able to assume in his career to be able to determine the fate on the lawn.

That is over now, and therefore it seems logical to draw a line. There are eight games until the Kehraus in Serie A, it should be a quiet servus for a player who was at home in the world class for many years and enjoyed the spotlight to the fullest.

What remains are countless encounters in which the appearance of Mats Hummels on the lawn and also stylish. Nico Schlotterbeck, who succeeded Dortmund and in the national team, describes Hummels as “teacher”. The most beautiful appreciation of many, after the publication of Mats Hummels, reached his time as a professional, came from the former colleague Lukas Podolski, who briefly and sparkled to the point: “Thank you for everything, my friend.”