Thomas Muller is known for his penchant to give out nicknames. These include "Lewangoalski", (Robert Lewandowski), and "Roadrunner", (Alphonso Davis). He's also known as Radio Muller in the Bayern Munich dressing rooms.
Ex-Bayern assistant coach Hermann Gerland coined the nickname due to his relentless on-field communication and interaction with his teammates, opponents, and referees. Bayern Munich posted a video of Muller's best soundbites in June. But his constant chatter is not a joke. We are able to see the vocal side of Muller and how it has made him so important for club as well as country.
In his 14th season with Bayern Munich, Muller's ability and skill to adjust his game over the years has made him as important as ever. Although his career at Bayern Munich is impressive, Muller's unique skills and positional intricacies require a manager to a) get to know him and b) create a system that allows him to dictate the pace of the match with or without the ball. It's worked so far with Nagelsmann.
Nagelsmann stated in preseason that "he's got outstanding qualities and was always one the most difficult players for opponents to prepare for because you just cannot pick him up because of his incredible feel to space." Nagelsmann stated that he is driven to be the best and play every day. "Why should I not have a player with such great quality?"
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When asked about his position, Muller said that he was Raumdeuter in 2011. This is roughly translated to "interpreter space" and that his best position was the middle. During the game, my position can change a lot. To receive the ball and make room for my teammates, I try to be in a comfortable position. In the past, I was able to have a good relationship to Arjen Robben so I would do my movements to make space for him, and sometimes he'd place the ball in the space I'm running. My teammates and I changed a bit as the game evolved.
Bayern Munich will face Bayer Leverkusen this Sunday. Live streaming, 9:30 AM. ET, ESPN+ (U.S.A.) -- Muller will be accompanied by 18-year old attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, who is the future of German football. Muller and Wirtz have been playing together on international duty for the past fortnight. However, in his 21-years at Bayern Munich, he has seen many of these promising players leave and come back, just like his colleagues. How does he do this?
It is much easier to understand Muller's on the field advice than to pick apart his positional evolution. Much of this is down to his instincts and how he draws players out of positions. He is a "glue" player who can shift between positions depending on his manager. He was more used on the left side of the attack under Jupp Heynckes (2011-13 and 2017-18), but when Pep Guardiola took over, he moved Muller to the middle.
Muller's reputation as a leader on the field is only one aspect of his continued importance to club and country as an older man. Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
It didn't always work: Niko Kovac (2018-19), Muller's system, did not match his strengths. Carlo Ancelotti (2016) rated Muller but the two of them never got along. Ancelotti stated to ESPN that Muller is "atypical" because he is a great forward with an unconventional skill set. Ancelotti stated that Muller was not a typical forward because he had the usual attributes, but rather his tactical skills. It was his ability "to read the game [and] fill the right space at right time" that made the difference.
His Raumdauter approach to attacking play worked under Hansi Flick (ex-Bayern Munich manager, Germany coach), and is now working under Nagelsmann. Muller, 32, is as important to Bayern today as he has ever been.
Under Nagelsmann, Muller was used more to the right of Bayern’s attack -- partly to help Josip Stanisic (young right-back) and make-shift option Niklas Sle (winger). Muller prefers to play more centrally.
Muller explained to ESPN that he now has the ball at his feet more often, which means more contact with it, but less shooting in the box. His best position is the central one. "I always strive to get close to the goal with and without the ball."
Bayern's season has started strongly with five wins out of seven. This is a rebuke to critics who had predicted a difficult transitional period as they moved from Flick to Nagelsmann, 34 years old.
"We have a system, players, and the fundamental elements of this success that we built over the past two years with Hansi, and now Julian Nagelsmann has some details and new ideas. We are open to them and try to adapt. Muller said that Nagelsmann was a great coach. He has great ideas about how to play and defend in football games. He is a good thinker and has great ideas for both offense and defense. It's all about the details in football at this level. While every player can play football, a team must have the right positioning and the right moments to win.
Germany needs Muller as much as any other team, even though the team is moving towards younger players. Marvin Ibo Guengoer/GES-Sportfoto
Muller stated that the start to the season was "great" for Bayern. He highlighted the "spirit" in the team, but also said that the "most important thing is our behavior on the pitch, our combinations, and our fire for offence." His 11-game record of managing four goals and six assists for Bayern has made him a key member of the Germany team. Flick said recently about Muller, "It's difficult to understand his playing style but it's impossible to quantify the value he brings the club and the team."
Germany became the first team to qualify to the 2022 World Cup after their win over North Macedonia 4-0. However, that was only possible thanks to Muller's victory against Romania in the previous match. The Germany side, just like Bayern, has the spine of experienced in Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich, along with Leon Goretzka and a sprinkle of the new generation in Bayer Leverkusen’s Wirtz, FC Salzburg's Karim Aeyemi, Bayer Leverkusen’s Wirtz, and Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala. Muller fits in perfectly at the center of the action, and the younger players are able to benefit from him. Kai Havertz (22 years old) said that playing alongside Muller was like having a third assistant coach.
What's next for Muller then? Could he move into management? Mario Gomez, a former Germany striker, said in September that he expected Muller to be a Jurgen Klopp-esque manger. Nagelsmann, who is just two years older than Muller, said that the Bayern forward "can implement [our instructions] incredibly intelligently... He has the gift of coaching." Muller, for his part, is not yet ready.
"I believe that everything is possible in the future, but I don't have a concrete plan. In three years, I want to end my career and in four years, I want to become a coach. Everything is possible if you focus on the present and future.
Since Muller's appointment as Bayern coach in the summer of this year, Nagelsmann (left) and Muller (right) have been a good team. Muller can communicate Bayern's strategies during games and is trusted to do so to good effect. David Ramos/Getty Images
The DFB-Pokal final in 2020 against Bayer Leverkusen was a prime example of Radio Muller. Bayern would win the game 4-2. Muller received a throw in on the Leverkusen edge penalty box. He flicked it back without looking and expected Kingsley Coman would have made an inside run. Instead, Coman stood still and planned to pass to his feet. "King!" He shouted, "King!
Muller's commentary on the field was very stark during the pandemic. He was also asked about it while on international duty last Wednesday. "I am more confident when addressing others. I don't want to be lecturing but rather to give the relevant information. Muller stated that in general, I try and implement it on the pitch." Positive feedback is also available. It has been said that I infect other players with it. I demand commands from other players."
Herein lies the secret to why Muller remains indispensable. This is partly due to his football knowledge and communication, but it's also about his ability to stay present and trust his instincts when it comes time for him to place himself on the field. Muller's Bayern Munich contract may be extended beyond 2023. But for a man who is able to find the time and space to play football on the field, he does everything at his own pace.
Muller stated, "My plan is always to think, what's the best for tomorrow." That's the most important plan. If you are honest with yourself, you will realize that you can't plan for the future, but things will change. My only plan was to be as good as possible, improve and continue playing year after year.
"[But] to have played so long for such a big club, I'm proud of it that my body is still that good to continue playing for this club and to win the most prestigious titles."
