Yesterday morning saw Bastian Schweinsteiger, winner of 23 major trophies, including the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League, call time on his 17-year playing career. The native of Kolbermoor, Germany made 619 first team appearances with the Chicago Fire, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
The 35-year-old scored 78 goals and notched 118 assists at the club level, adding 24 goals in international competition for Germany. He leaves the beautiful game as one of the most decorated players ever to grace the pitch; having won eight Bundesliga titles and seven German Cups.
“Ahead of the 2017 season, we specifically identified what we sought in a franchise player: sublime skill, a world-class competitive spirit, elite fútbol IQ and, ultimately, a champion, on and off the field” reads a statement attributed to Chicago Fire General Manager Nelson Rodriguez.
“Our first choice, in the entire world, was Basti. It has been an honor to have him defend our badge.”
“Chicagoans, like those in Munich and Manchester, easily appreciated his effort, his skill and his gritty elegance. He will always be revered by our fans. Danke, Basti.”
On Sunday night, Schweinsteiger played his final game, a win at Orlando City SC. He told his manager, Veljko Paunovic ahead of the match that this would be his last.
He did not tell all of his teammates, but some of those that didn’t know probably figured it out.
“My guess is that he told some of them, but not everyone for sure I think,” said Paunovic. “Most of the guys didn’t expect it.”
Paunovic then gave his end of the season speech to his team. Basti followed with his farewell address.
“It was a hard and difficult, very emotional moment that we’ll aways remember,” said Pauno. “It’s a lifetime experience, a lifetime moment.”
So what’s next for Schweini? Pauno says the midfield maestro has not notified him, or anyone else in the organization, about his next journey, but typically, it’s broadcasting or coaching for high profile footballers like him.
Coaching seems like a great fit, after he’s taken some time off of course.
“It’s going to be something related to the game, I think that he could be a very good coach,” continued Paunovic.
“He knows the game and how to communicate, obviously his experience will help the level that he can coach, but at this point I don’t see him starting right away with that.”
“Maybe in the future he changes his mind, but I think he wants to spend time with family and I think for sure he will be involved in some way, the game will bring him back.”
A perfect entry point for Schweinsteiger could be the German U21s. And who knows, maybe he’ll move up the ladder quickly like Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard. Paunovic spoke about what a complete player and person Schweinsteiger was on and off the off pitch; an individual with a ton of charisma.
This is what you need in order to be a leader, and that’s what coaches and mentors truly are: people who have a lot of leadership qualities.
Paunovic spoke of Schweinsteiger’s “continuous desire to get better to improve the team, help the teammates get better, to learn from him, to hear him share his experiences and knowledge of the game, his passion also.”
Sounds a lot like a future coach to me.
“Being next to him in this his last adventure he had as a soccer player was a huge honor,” Paunovic concluded.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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