Bayern Munich bids goodbye to 25-year stalwart Thomas Müller

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich fans paid tribute to Thomas Müller before, during and after his last home game for the club on Saturday.

“We all knew this moment would come. I knew, too,” Müller told Bayern supporters after a 2-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. “And I’m very happy about it ... that we got this trophy back in Munich!”

Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title last weekend but had to wait until after Saturday's match to be presented with the trophy. The celebrations were centered on Müller after his 750th game for the Bavarian powerhouse.

Before it, supporters behind one of the goals displayed a huge red and white tifo with pictures of Müller celebrating and lifting trophies, accompanied by his name in giant letters, and a banner above it saying, “For 25 years everything for our colors!”

Club officials also presented the 35-year-old Müller with a picture of himself with all the trophies he won with Bayern.

“Let us play!” he shouted as he brought the picture and a bouquet of flowers to the sideline.

Müller made his 502nd Bundesliga appearance. He played until the 84th minute when he went off to resounding crowd applause. He embraced teammates as he left the field, and blew kisses and waved to the crowd. Bayern substitutes formed a guard of honor for him.

Müller is leaving at the end of the season after winning a record 13 league titles among others with the club.

“I’ll miss it. I loved being the modern gladiator," Müller told the fans. “But I’m not sad. I’m looking forward to what’s to come, even if it’s only half as good as this.”

Bayern announced in April that this season would be Müller's last with the club. He was keen to extend his contract despite limited playing time but Bayern management felt it was more prudent to save his considerable wage packet than offer him a new one.

Müller joined Bayern as a 10-year-old from TSV Pähl, a small Bavarian club based to the southwest of Munich, in the summer of 2000.

He made his Bayern debut under Jürgen Klinsmann in 2008 and his breakthrough under Louis van Gaal the following season. He went on to make more appearances than any other player at Bayern, with more than 200 goals scored and more than 200 set up for other players.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Bayern's Thomas Mueller greets supporters after being substituted during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Thomas Mueller during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern Munich fans cheer ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern Munich fan holds placard reading "Muller for President" ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Thomas Mueller, second left, poses with club president Herbert Hainer, centre, and other club officials during a farewell ahead of his last home game for Bayern Munich at the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern Munich fans cheers Bayern's Thomas Mueller who will play his last home match for Bayern Munich, ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

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Plaud Unveils Plaud NotePin S and Plaud Desktop, at CES, the Only Note-Taking Solution That Seamlessly Bridges In-Person and Online Conversations