Properly built defense is one of the foundations of football. It is important not only to score more goals in the opponent’s goal, but also not to let your own ones hit. This task is the responsibility of not only the goalkeeper, but also the defenders, mostly central. Due to the frequent connections of the flanks to the attack, it’s the centerbacks, along with the goalkeeper, who ensure the integrity of their own goal. Unfortunately, reliable central defenders in modern times can be counted on the fingers, and each of them is worth its weight in gold. Mats Hummels from this number. The German is the main player not only in Bayern Munich, but also in the German national team.
Way to the top of the football
Mats Julian Hummels was born on December 16, 1988 in Bergisch Gladbach, in a family devoted to football entirely. Father, Herman Hummels, once played as a midfielder, and ended up as a playing coach. Now he is engaged with children and youth teams, including managed to work with the youth team of Bavaria. Mother, Ulle Holtoff is the first football journalist to have reached the post of commentator. Jonas Hummels, the younger brother of the Bayern defender, mostly played in the regional league for Unterhaching, but two serious injuries put an end to his career.
Herman Hummels was a fan of Bavaria, and it is not surprising that both his sons ended up at the Munich Club Academy. Mats and Jonas performed in different age categories, but once met in person. The older brother, playing in the center-def position (was originally a defensive midfielder), prevailed over the younger striker. However, the further career has developed similarly. Mats Hummels went on the rise, and Jonas slipped to the level of the regional league. The elder brother began to move quite quickly to the first team of “Bavaria”. He began the 2006-2007 season in the double of the Munich club, and finished his debut as the basis for the Bavarians in the match with Mainz on May 19, 2007 (5: 3), as well as signing a two-year contract.
However, the next football year was not particularly successful due to high competition. In 2008, the club management decided to send their pupil on loan to receive game practice. So Hummels ended up in the Dortmund Borussia. The first season in the new team, frankly, failed. In January, the defender was injured, so he dropped out for a month and a half. However, after the expiration of the one-year lease, the German refused to return to Bavaria, he decided to switch to "bumblebees" on an ongoing basis. Support from Jürgen Klopp also played an important role.
Hummels did not fail with the decision. Dortmund Borussia not only became the champion of Germany in the 2010-2011 season, but also defended the title in the next season. The defender, thanks to his confident game in defense, turned into one of the leaders of the team, he won the love of fans. In the 2012-2013 season, “bumblebees” reached the final of the Champions League, losing there to their sworn opponents from Bayern (1-2). Further is even better. At the World Cup held in Brazil, the German national team won, beating Argentina in extra time. In the same year, Hummels rose to the rank of captain of the Borussia bandage. Not surprisingly, the newly made champion attracted the attention of much more famous teams. In turn lined up two Manchester clubs, London “Chelsea”, Madrid “Real”, Paris “PSG” and, of course, “Bavaria”. It was in the Munich grand that the defender of Borussia moved in 2016. The club regarded this act as a betrayal. However, the player himself regarded this step as a return to the team that raised him. Now Hummels is 29 years old, began his 3rd season with Bayern.
Advantages and disadvantages
Mats Hummels is rightly considered one of the best central defenders of our time. In Germany, it is often compared with the legendary Franz Beckenbauer. The German, with his height of 191 cm, is excellent in positional defense, practically does not leave any free zones, and is good at riding martial arts, tackles, interceptions and personal guardianship. Beating him 1 in 1 is very difficult. In addition, he has a good dribbling role for the player. But there are no perfect players. By cons of Mats Hummels it is worth highlighting a weak riding game with standards at the gates of others and an imperfect first pass. You should also highlight the low speed data of the player and exposure to injury.
Statistics and trophies
In his 29 years, the German played over 350 matches at the club level. Perhaps, if it weren’t for frequent injuries, this figure could be much higher. Most of the games took place during the performance for “Borussia” from Dortmund - 250 games and 20 goals. For the German national team, the defender spent 70 matches, scored five goals scored.
The list of achievements of Mats Hummels is impressive. With “bumblebees”, the German twice became the champion of the country, took the German Cup 1 time and the Super Bowl 2 times. With Bayern there are no less trophies. As part of the Munich Grand, he twice took the silver salad bowl (champion cup) of the Bundesliga and three times - the German Super Cup. Only the Champions League did not submit to the defender, although he was close to victory in this tournament.
In the international arena, things were also successful. Hummels twice became the bronze medalist of the European Championship (2012 and 2016). But the cherry on the cake in Mats's career is a victory at the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil. The German national team, having demonstrated an exemplary game both in defense and in attack, sensationally defeated the hosts of the tournament with a score of 1-7, and then defeated the Argentines in extra time (1-0).
Personal life
The biography of Mats Hummels would obviously be incomplete without mentioning his life partner. The German is distinguished not only by excellent gaming skills, but also by a rather attractive appearance. Despite various rumors, it was Katie Fischer who was always the Bayern defender's girl. They met while still very young, but officially formalized the relationship in 2015. At the beginning of 2018, the couple had a boy named Ludwig. Like his supermodel wife, Mats Hummels promotes her clothing line, participates in various events.