Defiant Departure: Mats Hummels Bid Farewell to Football, Unfulfilled Expectations Remaining - Mats Hummels deserved a more fitting farewell.
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In the closing minutes of the final game of the season, Mats Hummels, a stalwart of the football world, prepared to bow out on the sidelines of the Olympic Stadium in Rome. His club, AS Roma, was safeguarding a 2-0 lead against Juventus Turin, and coach Claudio Ranieri intended to bring Hummels on, along with three others, to fortify their fifth-place standing in the league.
The scene was ordinary, devoid of excitement. Hummels played the last three minutes of his career almost unnoticed, with the German public remaining oblivious to his impending departure. His teammates at least recognized his significance, hoisting him up several times after the final whistle. Every teammate understood that a great player was saying goodbye. Emotions spilled over as Hummels gave his final televised interview, expressing a mix of happiness, sadness, and overwhelming emotion. His parting sentiments were, "I'm not entirely sure how I feel. I'm happy, sad, filled with emotions." He also added, "I'm glad we finally secured a spot in the Europa League – though we barely missed out on the Champions League."
The farewell felt underwhelming due to its simplicity, a stark contrast to that of Thomas Müller. Müller's goodbye was celebrated for weeks by the media and fans. In his last home game, coach Vincent Kompany placed him in the starting lineup (for reasons beyond sport), the fans cheered him with standing ovations, and he delivered an emotional speech. The festivities included a generous amount of confetti. Moreover, Müller was given an unexpected encore: A month-long contract extension to play in the Club World Cup in the USA. Bayern Munich, where Müller has spent his entire career, knows how to provide fitting farewells to legendary players.
true, Müller had the advantage of staying loyal to Bayern his entire life. The joyous atmosphere was further enhanced by Bayern's 34th consecutive Bundesliga title – and admittedly, Müller's career is not yet over. It's plausible that Müller could add another professional year in the USA.
The unfortunate part comes into play with Mats Hummels' beloved club, Borussia Dortmund. Hummels spent 13 of his 18 professional years with BVB. After a three-year stint at Bayern Munich, he returned to Dortmund in 2019, delivering commendable performances, particularly in his last season. He played a crucial role in helping the team reach the Champions League final the previous year.
However, Hummels' confident demeanor sometimes stirred dissention, as evidenced by a 2024 spring interview where he openly criticized coach Edin Terzic's tactical approach. This extracurricular commentary did not sit well with the club's management, leading to a visible cooling of their relationship. Unlike Müller's one-year contract extension in Munich the year prior, a similar deal was off the table for Hummels, both for sporting reasons. During his last home game, Hummels was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a perfunctory handshake.
Hummels was never a favorite among the fans, who admired him for his sharp tackles, outside-of-the-foot passes, and polished post-match comments. Müller, on the other hand, engendered camaraderie. Nevertheless, the way Dortmund handled Hummels' departure was less than commendable. It seemed more had gone wrong than was initially apparent.
Hummels' bitterness about his dismissal is palpable in his statement in the ZDF documentary "Hummels - La Finale": "Things should have gone differently for me. Typically, such conversations happen on a personal level. I think someone was trying to exact revenge through an interview and leaked it to the press before it was officially announced." His final year at Roma mirrored the disappointing conclusion to his time at Dortmund, with his initial lack of playing time and eventually being dismissed after earning a red card in a crucial Europa League match.
Now, Hummels has time to care for his son Ludwig. And hopefully, he'll receive the recognition he deserves someday, somewhere. He deserves it.
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Thomas Müller, a one-club man at Bayern Munich, has become one of the most decorated players in football history. His 13 Bundesliga titles, 6 DFB-Pokals, 2 UEFA Champions League titles, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 2 FIFA Club World Cups, and records like scoring in 16 consecutive Bundesliga seasons epitomize his stellar career. On the contrary, Mats Hummels, despite a distinguished career, does not offer the same level of record-breaking milestones or historic consistency at a single club, contributing to a less grand farewell. Müller's singular icon status at Bayern and a triumphant context, like recent titles, have fueled celebratory details, while Hummels' departure was subdued, reflecting Dortmund's challenges and possibly a less triumphant team environment.
The Commission could consider proposing a directive on the protection of workers in the European leagues, such as Serie A, from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the potential hazards athletes may encounter during their careers, particularly those who have played for extended periods in sports like football. Mats Hummels, a former professional football player, experienced a less grand farewell due to circumstances surrounding his departure from Borussia Dortmund, contrasting with the celebration Thomas Müller received after his farewell from Bayern Munich, where he spent his entire career.
