In 2009, Bayern Munich sold Mats Hummels for £3.2m. Three years later and the classy Germany defender has added Zinedine Zidane to his growing fanbase
For all the progressive work Joachim Löw has overseen since he has been in Germany's dugout, he is familiar with the feeling of falling achingly close to a finishing line. As Jürgen Klinsmann's assistant at the 2006 World Cup, which Germany hosted, he was in the party that succumbed in extra time of a riveting semi-final against Italy. In the next two tournaments, Löw's team were floored by Spain in a final and semi-final respectively.
But there is, in this Germany team, a cluster of players who have first-hand knowledge of triumph in the national colours. The crowds might have been a little more sparse, the pressure less consuming, but the medals were still gold as the class of 2009 won the Under-21 European Championship in Sweden in rampaging style.
The conquering team included Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. That is some vintage. "It's good that we have grown up together," reflects Hummels. "You know how they are on the field and off it. It feels more like a family."
For such a brilliant ensemble to emerge, and then seamlessly bridge the gap to become crucial members of the senior team, is no accident. The Deutscher Fussball Bund is reaping what it began to sew 12 years ago, when a feeble exit from Euro 2000 made Germany take a radical look at their approach to player development. It turned out nothing had changed for 30 years. All their ideas, all their manuals, were stuck in the 1970s.
Fresh theories, young coaches with open minds, and the backing of clubs eager to promote new thinking has produced a more enlightened type of player – not just technically, but behaviourally as well. One word that is rammed home throughout their education is "demut". Humility. Khedira talked about it recently as he recalled his formative footballing years at Stuttgart.
The message was clear: every day you are taught to conduct yourself in a humble way. You may be better than your opponents but you must show that on pitch and not in your personality. Don't make an exhibition of yourself. Don't be brash or selfish. These are golden rules.
This generation strike a very new chord with the public. Fans feel more connected to a bunch who are smart, realistic, responsible, and able to express their opinions with reason and warmth that brings them popularity that is more natural than is the case in England.
So it is that Hummels, who has garnered fulsome praise for his brand of elegant and strategic defending during the Euros, laughs off all the attention with a modesty that makes him seem even more likeable. If his emergence has caught some by surprise that is only because his club, Borussia Dortmund, fared badly in the Champions League so his global exposure has been less than his compadres at Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
For Bayern, Hummels is the one who got away. The production line in Munich has been prolific with Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller and Holger Badstuber mainstays for club and country. Hummels came under Bayern's wing from the age of six, and his father, Hermann, worked in the club's youth department. So far, so smooth.
By the age of 19, Hummels had played only once for Bayern's first team and it became apparent that breaking through was hard to do. With established internationals such as the Brazilian Lucio and the Argentinian Martín Demichelis in front of him, Hummels sought first team football and moved, initially on loan, to Dortmund. It is not clear how much the decision was affected by the fact his father – also his agent – was fired by Bayern, but the end result was a coup for Bayern's strongest rivals. Hummels's move was made permanent for a bargain €4m (£3.2m). He went straight into the first team, stayed there, and has become a linchpin.
Hummels has won consecutive Bundesliga titles with Borussia, and has been such an impressive figure that Bayern were keen to lure him back to Bavaria. For now it is a lost cause, though. Hummels is grateful for the experience he has gained with Dortmund and the opportunity he has had to blossom. And, of course, the prizes.
He was not a certainty to start for Germany during Euro 2012. There was a lot of debate about the defensive line-up when Per Mertesacker was selected for the last warm-up game before the tournament began. "I'm patient," Hummels said calmly. "When I get the chance I will be there." As it turned out, Löw put him straight back into the team immediately, and his performances on the Euro stage have been flawless. One of his new admirers is Zinedine Zidane, who picked him out above any more offensive options when asked about which player had most caught his eye during the tournament. "It is nice to go forwards and to be recognised for that, but I am prepared to be a wall if I need to be," reckons Hummels.
The 23 year old is not afraid the opinions of others, good or bad. He devours the newspapers, soaks up debates, and takes it all in. Aside from his own genuine interest, there is an extra reason for his enthusiasm in that his mother, Ulla, is a sports journalist. She works on German television, commentating on a range of sports.
There was once a stage when Hummels fancied the life of a reporter if the football did not work out. It seems he had the chance to follow in the footsteps of both his parents. Thankfully for Germany, it is his feet which create the best stories. Read More
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