The curtain is set to come down on Thomas Müller's unique career at Bayern Munich as the Bundesliga giants have confirmed that the German legend will be leaving the club as a free agent at the conclusion of the ongoing 2024–2025 season.
The announcement brings to a close a 25-year association between the 35-year-old star and his childhood dream club.
In a statement, Bayern revealed that both the club and the player had mutually agreed to part ways following a prolonged period of discussions regarding a contract extension.
Müller, a one-club man since joining the Bayern youth setup at the age of 10 in the summer of 2000, has gone on to become the club’s record appearance holder and the most decorated player in Bundesliga history.
From a small village to global stardom
Born in Weilheim, Müller grew up in the small village of Pähl, around 30 miles southwest of Munich.
After a breakout season with the U19s in 2007/08, where he scored 18 goals in 26 games, he caught the eye of then head coach Jürgen Klinsmann.
He made his Bundesliga debut just before his 19th birthday, coming on as a substitute for Miroslav Klose against Hamburg in the 2008/09 opener.
Former coach Louis van Gaal once said, "Even if Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are available, Müller will always play in my team."
Müller has since credited Van Gaal with playing a pivotal role in shaping his career.
"He threw me in at the deep end… My biggest influence was Louis van Gaal, because I was at the best age to be influenced," he told Goal in 2016.
A glittering trophy cabinet
Since his promotion to the senior team in 2008, Müller has played a key role in Bayern’s dominance.
His trophies include two UEFA Champions League titles, 12 Bundesliga crowns, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups, and eight DFL-Supercups.
He made 497 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 150 goals and providing 177 assists.
In all competitions, he has appeared in 743 matches for Bayern.
He holds the record for most Bundesliga wins (over 323) and the highest number of Bundesliga appearances by a Bayern outfield player (surpassing Gerd Müller with 428 appearances).
Club president Herbert Hainer remarked, “Thomas Müller is the definition of a Bavarian fairytale career; he grew in Bavaria and with Bayern. From Ammersee to the Allianz Arena, as far as Asia and America. Nobody has won more Bundesliga titles, and 33 trophies in total so far speak volumes.”
The Raumdeuter
Müller’s unorthodox role on the pitch earned him the title Raumdeuter, or “interpreter of space”—a term he coined himself in a 2011 interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Lacking the flashy skills of traditional forwards, Müller’s value was his timing, vision, tactical intelligence, and a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
During Bayern’s 2012/13 treble-winning season, Müller scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists in the Bundesliga, netted eight goals in the Champions League (including three against Barcelona in the semi-finals), and contributed in the DFB Cup final as well.
The managers and the evolution
Müller adapted to the tactical systems of various coaches. Under Pep Guardiola, he flourished in a more central role and enjoyed his most prolific season in 2015/16 with 32 goals in all competitions.
Under Carlo Ancelotti, he took a more altruistic role with 16 assists in the Bundesliga.
Hansi Flick’s arrival in 2019 brought Müller back to prominence in a free attacking role, resulting in a record 21 assists in the 2019/20 Bundesliga season and another Champions League triumph, this time against PSG.
“You can’t always grasp his playing style, but you can’t quantify what he brings to the team and the club either,” said Flick. “There will never be anyone like him.”
The decline and the shift
Recent seasons have seen Müller’s role diminish.
In the 2024/25 Bundesliga season, he has made 25 appearances, but only 8 starts and a solitary goal. This season, he has 5 goals and 5 assists in 36 games.
A major reason for this decline has been frequent managerial changes and the evolution of Bayern’s tactical philosophy.
Under Vincent Kompany, Bayern has adopted a high-pressing, possession-based style that doesn't align well with Müller’s strengths.
The same was true under Thomas Tuchel and Niko Kovač. During Kovač’s tenure, Müller found himself benched, leading Serge Gnabry to defend his teammate.
Serge Gnabry spoke out at one Germany camp in 2019, saying Müller "deserves a little more respect", and that it was "hard to imagine Bayern Munich without him."
But Bayern has prepared for life without Müller.
Jamal Musiala has taken up the attacking midfield responsibilities, with 18 goals and 5 assists in 40 appearances this season.
The midfield also features dynamic talents such as Aleksandar Pavlović, João Palhinha, Konrad Laimer, and the ever-reliable Joshua Kimmich.
Modern football’s preference for pace and high-pressing systems has left less room for a Raumdeuter.
In an era dominated by speedsters like Leroy Sane, Alphonso Davies, and Michael Olise, Müller’s unique strengths have become less appreciated.
Müller’s connection with India
Few might know that Müller also shares a unique connection with India.
He first visited the country in 2009 as part of Bayern Munich’s reserve squad. He featured in three friendly matches, scoring in a 6-0 win against Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad XI on January 21, 2009.
Bayern, accompanied by legend Gerd Müller, even selected six U-15 Indian players for training in Germany during that visit.
He also played against East Bengal in a 5-1 win in Siliguri.
Müller returned to India in 2011 for a testimonial match for Bhaichung Bhutia, where he scored a brace in Bayern’s 4-0 win over Team India at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
The farewell and what lies ahead
“It’s clear that today is not like any other day for me,” Müller said in his statement.
“My 25 years as an FC Bayern Munich player will come to an end in the summer. It’s been an incredible journey, shaped by unique experiences, great encounters and unforgettable triumphs,” he said.
“The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain. What I want as a farewell should be clear: titles we can celebrate together, and moments we’ll remember fondly for a long time. We’re going to give our all in the coming weeks to bring the league title back to Munich and reach our coveted ‘Finale Dahoam’. Let’s do it together!”
To honour Müller’s contributions, Bayern has confirmed a testimonial match for the legend during their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the USA, beginning June 15.