Mats Hummels' Subdued Farewell Contrasts with Thomas Müller's Emotional send-off
- by Tim Schulze
- ~3 minutes
Farewell to Mats Hummels was undeservingly unimpressive. - Mats Hummels deserved a more respectable farewell.
The 89th minute of a late Sunday game in Turin signaled the start of Mats Hummels' farewell as he was substituted on the sideline of the Olympic Stadium. His club, AS Roma, played the final game of the season with a 2:0 lead in Piedmont, aiming to maintain fifth place in the championship. Juventus Turin, their competitor, was in the lead in the parallel game, qualifying for the Champions League.
It was an ordinary, unspectacular moment as Hummels concluded his career in near anonymity, with minimal public attention from Germany. His teammates acknowledged his departure with airborne tosses and an emotional television interview where he expressed a mix of happiness, sadness, and feelings of gratitude: "I'm not entirely sure how I feel. I'm both happy and sad, full of emotions." He added, "I'm glad we finally made it to the Europa League, though we narrowly missed the Champions League."
A Contrasting Farewell for Thomas Müller
The quiet farewell seemed incongruous given Hummels' impressive, 18-year career. He once formed an unparalleled central defender duo with national team colleague Jérôme Boateng and significantly contributed to Germany's World Cup victory in 2014. With Jurgen Klopp's team, Hummels won five German championships, three cup victories, and although he reached the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and 2024, he never claimed the trophy.
Thomas Müller's farewell, however, was a grand spectacle, celebrated by media and fans for weeks. In his last home game, coach Vincent Kompany placed him in the starting lineup – a gesture empty of sporting significance – as the fans applauded him with standing ovations. Müller delivered an emotional speech, and numerous confetti flies filled the air. Furthermore, the 35-year-old will get a brief encore: He will play for FC Bayern at the Club World Cup in the USA, having signed a short-term extension. Bayern Munich has always been known for giving fitting send-offs to club legends.
Despite Michael being loyal to FC Bayern throughout his life, the jubilant atmosphere was partly due to the 34th win of the German championship. Strictly speaking, Müller's career ending is not set in stone, as he may decide to stay on for another professional season in the USA.
Hummels' Unceremonious Exit with Borussia Dortmund
One-year younger Müller's celebratory farewell stands in stark contrast to Hummels' unassuming departure. Borussia Dortmund, a club with which Hummels played for 13 of his 18 professional years, played an unenviable role in this affair. Following a three-year break at Bayern Munich, Hummels returned to Dortmund in 2019, not always dazzling, but particularly in his final season, he excelled. He contributed significantly to the team reaching the Champions League final last year.
Yet, Hummels sometimes incurred the wrath of his fellow team members with his confident demeanor. In a 2024 interview, he openly criticized head coach Edin Terzic's tactical approach, which did not go down well. The relationship between Hummels and the club management cooled, and a one-year contract extension, like Müller's in Munich the year prior, was off the table, for both contractual and sporting reasons. In his final home game, Hummels was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a damp handshake.
Hummels was never a fan favorite, yet admired for his tough tackles, precise passes outside of the boot, and measured post-game comments. Müller, on the other hand, evoked a sense of camaraderie. Nevertheless, Dortmund's handling of Hummels, a highly deserving player, warranted criticism, raising questions about what transpired behind the scenes.
Mats Hummels' Bitter Taste of Goodbye
The extent to which Hummels was affected by the heartless separation is evident in his emotional interview for ZDF's "Hummels - La Finale" documentary: "It should have been different for me. Conversations like these are usually held on a personal level. I think someone wanted to get back at me by leaking it to the press before it was officially announced."
His last season at Roma was a continuation of his disappointing Dortmund exit, as he initially failed to secure playing time. Only after Claudio Ranieri took over as head coach did Hummels play more often. However, his time in Rome was cut short after he earned a red card in a match that sealed his team's elimination from the Europa League quarter-finals – a blunder he described as the biggest mistake of his career.
Now, Hummels has more time to spend with his son Ludwig. Hopefully, he will eventually receive the appropriate recognition for his achievements. He certainly deserves it.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in Europe's top football leagues, including Serie A. Mats Hummels, having spent 13 of his 18 professional years in Serie A, might have benefited from such protection during his playing days, especially when he returned to Borussia Dortmund but faced a heartless exit, unlike the grand spectacle celebrated by fans and media for Thomas Müller in Munich.
