Name: Philipp Lahm
Born: November 11, 1983 in Munich, Germany
Position: Defender
Pro club: Bayern Munich
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Why he’s in the news
Lahm is generally recognized as the best full back in the world. Captain of both club and country, the 30-year-old German is a model of consistency as a stingy defender and a dangerous counter-attacking option. And he’s a big reason why Germany reached its fourth straight World Cup semifinal in Brazil, and is two wins away from claiming the crown for a fourth time.
He’s special because
In a word: versatility. Although right-footed, Lahm can play either fullback position, and has served as a defensive and right-sided midfielder from time to time including in Brazil. Defensively solid and able to astutely read the game, Lahm has dangerous pace (which he uses to join the attack), is very good with the ball at his feet and is noted for his precise and timely tackles.
Club career
Lahm came up through Bayern Munich’s youth ranks but his passage to the first team was blocked by the likes of Willy Sagnol and Bixente Lizarazu, so the Bavarian club sent him on loan to VfB Stuttgart for two seasons in 2003. It was at Stuttgart that Lahm began to assert himself, but he returned to Bayern in 2005 after being sidelined by injuries. A recurring knee problem limited to him 20 league appearances during the 2005-06 campaign, and by the next year he firmly established himself in Bayern starting 11. Ever since, he’s been one of Bayern’s best players, helping the German side win a handful of Bundesliga crowns and German Cups, as well as last year’s Champions League title.
International career
Lahm was a part of the German team that lost to Spain in the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in 2002. He also represented his country at U-20 and U-21 level before making his debut for the senior national team in 2004 as a 20-year-old in a friendly against Croatia. By the time Euro 2004 arrived, he was a first-choice starter for Germany and helped his country finish third at the 2006 World Cup on home soil. He was also one of four German players named to the tournament’s 23-man all-star team. Outstanding performances followed at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 when he was named to the tournament all-star team each time. All told, Lahm has five goals in over 110 appearances for Germany, his first coming in a 2004 friendly against Romania.
His most famous moment
Lahm scored the first goal in the opening game of the 2006 World Cup, cutting in from the left flank and unleashing a gorgeous shot from just inside the penalty area that nestled into the top-right corner of the net. Germany went on to beat Costa Rica 4-2.
Here’s an interesting fact
Lahm was the only German player to play all 690 minutes of the 2006 World Cup on home soil, as the host nation defeated Portugal in the third-place game after losing to Italy in a dramatic semifinal.
He said it
“With passion, one player—one player alone—can lift the performance of a whole team. It’s not a question of his technical ability … but of his character, his devotion to his team and to the game. The passionate player does things other players won’t do. He chases a ball that looks lost, and if he gets it … it’s not just a ball-recovery, it’s a signal: See? We can do it! If only we want it enough, if we go for it with absolute commitment.”
What they’re saying about him
“Philipp Lahm has been a leading figure for us in recent years and he’s been playing at the highest level for a decade.” – Joachim Low, Germany manager