One of the most successful German goal scorers of all time says goodbye: Mario Gomez will play his last game for VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.
The almost 35-year-old’s contract expires. According to information from SPOX and Goal there are several inquiries from home and abroad for him, but a career end is more likely. In his VfB farewell, he will definitely play against Darmstadt 98 again from the beginning and then almost certainly celebrate the promotion to the Bundesliga in view of the significantly better goal difference in front of chaser Heidenheim.
His ex-coaches are full of praise. “Mario has had a great career and is a personable person with a great character,” said Armin Veh SPOX and Goal. “Mario initially had a certain phlegm as a young player, but he quickly put it down and then went his way very purposefully.”
Under Veh, the half-Spaniard became a regular at his home club VfB at the age of 21 and had a significant share in the sensational win of the 2007 championship with his goals. In the same year, Gomez was voted Germany ’s Footballer of the Year.
FC Bayern: The new signings of FCB under Louis van Gaal-
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A new era began at Bayern in 2009. With trainer Louis van Gaal a world star came to Munich. During his rather short era, many new faces came to Säbener Straße. We look back.
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EDSON BRAAFHEID: Van Gaal brought the left-back from the Netherlands, where he played for Twente. The defender never saw land and was only a reservist. In winter 2010 he said goodbye to Celtic. Today he plays in the 2nd US league.
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DANIJEL PRANJIC: Pranjic also came from the Netherlands from Heerenveen and should play universally on the left side. The Croatian never really became a factor, but stayed until 2012 and then went to Sporting. Active in Cyprus today.
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ALEXANDER BAUMJOHANN: The offensive talent came from Gladbach free of charge and had a difficult time. Went back to Schalke in spring 2010 – for a million. He has been playing for Sydney FC since 2019.
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ANATOLIY TYMOSHCHUK: The Ukrainian came from Zenit St. Petersburg, but was already certain that Van Gaal would have access. He was a reliable backup and helped win the CL 2013. Then went back to Zenit, where he is now an assistant coach.
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LUIZ GUSTAVO: Joined Bayern in January 2011 and was then tried as a left-back and center-back. Really prevailing – in midfield – he only got under Heynckes. Went to Wolfsburg in 2013 and now plays for Fener.
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IVICA OLIC: Came from HSV and quickly became one of van Gaal’s favorites and mostly the only top in the triple storm. His last appearance was the final where he missed a 911. Then went to Wolfsburg and ended 2017 at 60.
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MARIO GOMEZ: The top German striker initially had a difficult time under van Gaal. It was “not his transfer”, was already certain earlier. Ultimately, however, he prevailed and remained a regular until the CL triumph. Again at VfB today.
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ARJEN ROBBEN: By far the best approach that van Gaal co-threaded – Robben became a Bayern legend and a key player on the way to 3 CL finals and the triumph in Wembley 2013. Ended his career in Munich in 2019.
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HOLGER BADSTUBER: Van Gaal was also a blessing for our own offspring! He prevailed against the prophecies of doom and put the blank slate in the chain of four on the left. Injuries threw him back and he ultimately went to VfB in 2017.
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DIEGO CONTENTO: Promoted to the first team in January 2010 and often gave the left-back. Played later in the final from the start and was in debt to the corner before the 1-1 draw. Under contract today in Düsseldorf.
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MEHMET EKICI: Joined the professionals in February 2010 and was loaned to Nuremberg in July. Moved to Werder in 2011 and now plays for Fenerbahce.
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DAVID ALABA: Was brought to the pros in 2010 and convinced before he delivered a catastrophic game in Frankfurt. Was then loaned to Hoffenheim in January 2011 and came back matured in July. Since then a top performer.
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THOMAS MÜLLER: “Thomas Müller always plays” was van Gaal’s route, so the youngster was actually set from the beginning of the 2009 season. The world champion is still a regular in Munich today.
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LOUIS VAN GAAL: The tulip general was the Munich coach from 2009 to April 2011, won the double and reached the CL final. He then coached the Elftal and Manchester United from 2014 to 2016. Since retired.
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Magath on Gomez: “He is one of the best”
The Stuttgart coach Felix Magath was responsible for the professional debut back in 2004. “He is one of the best who played in the Bundesliga in his position,” said the 66-year-old and said in retrospect: “Back then it was the most outstanding feature that Mario wanted to score. He has brought a lot with him Top striker. “
In total, Gomez scored 170 goals in 329 Bundesliga games, placing him in eleventh place on the all-time leaderboard. With FC Bayern, the top scorer from 2011 was twice German champion and once cup winner and won the Champions League in 2013. The attacker then moved to Florence and then to Besiktas Istanbul in 2016/17, where he became Turkish champions and top scorer.
The championship team of VfB Stuttgart 2006/07-
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With Serdar Tasci, one of VfB Stuttgart’s master heroes from 2006/07 is celebrating his 33rd birthday today. SPOX congratulates and reminisces about the last Swabian championship team.
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Goal: TIMO HILDEBRAND (33 appearances) – Timo Hildebrand missed a single game on matchday 25 against Wolfsburg. Otherwise, he was a sure backing. He had to reach 37 times in total. After the season, he went to Valencia.
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Right-back: RICARDO OSORIO (27 appearances) – In his first season in Germany , he played the right-back and mostly secured behind Hilbert.
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Central defender: SERDAR TASCI (28 appearances) – It was the first professional year for the Esslingen team. It was only in 2013 that he turned his back on the Swabians and went to Spartak Moscow.
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Central defense: MATHIEU DELPIERRE (33 missions) – In the defense center, the Frenchman was rock solid. He gave three assists – and saw only four yellow cards.
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Left-back: LUDOVIC MAGNIN (22 appearances) – Coming from Bremen in 2005, it took the Swiss almost half a year to get stuck in the back left. It was his second championship title after 2004.
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Right midfield: ROBERTO HILBERT (34 appearances) – Hilbert never missed a single game. Sometimes more defensive, sometimes more offensive – the right flank was his territory. He contributed 7 goals and 3 assists.
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Defensive midfield: PAVEL PARDO (34 appearances) – Like Hilbert without a single miss, played a total of seven minutes more than Hildebrand in his first year in Stuttgart. In 2009 it went back to Mexico.
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Left midfield: THOMAS HITZLSPERGER (30 appearances) – “The Hammer” is now managing VfB’s fortunes as sports director. Back then, extremely important at 24. Unforgettable his hammer goal to 1-1 against Cottbus on matchday 34.
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Attacking midfield: ANTONIO DA SILVA (28 appearances) – The Brazilian playmaker only played six times, but distributed seven assists. His free kicks were feared.
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Sturm: CACAU (32 appearances) – “Helmut” scored 13 goals for VfB in the championship year, for which he prepared four. In the eight victories at the end of the season there were 5 stalls.
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Sturm: MARIO GOMEZ (25 appearances) – Played his second season in the starting eleven at 21, with 14 goals and 7 assists he made his final breakthrough. In February 2007 he was allowed to run for Löw for the first time.
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Sturm: MARCO STRELLER (26 appearances) – Usually the first storm joker from the bank. With 5 goals in 730 minutes, he made his contribution, including the winning goal to 1-0 against Bochum.
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Midfield: Sami Khedira (22) – It was the first Bundesliga season of the future world champion. Khedira helped almost everywhere in midfield – and made the 2-1 winning goal the title on matchday 34.
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Central defense: FERNANDO MEIRA (20 missions) – The long-time captain was not always the first choice, but made his contribution and was invaluable for the young savages. The reward: he was the first to hold the bowl!
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Left-back: ARTHUR BOKA (19 appearances) – The man from the Ivory Coast was seeded in the first half of the season, then Magnin pulled past him. Remained in Stuttgart for a total of eight years.
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Midfield: CHRISTIAN GENTNER (15 missions) – At 21, similar to Khedira, an all-purpose weapon in the midfield. Marked the 2-1 winning goal against Wolfsburg on matchday 33.
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Left midfield: DANIEL BIEROFKA (12 appearances) – the first few weeks as regular players, then the young super talents passed. What the hell – title is title!
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Sturm: BENJAMIN LAUTH (11 appearances) – Came on loan from Hamburg to VfB during the winter break and stormed over the left side in the second half of the season. At least scored a goal against Alemannia Aachen.
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Midfield: ALEXANDER FARNERUD (9 appearances) – Only 333 minutes lost for the Swede. Four templates in this time are worthy of honor.
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There were also appearances in the championship season: Jon Dahl Tomasson (Sturm / 4), Andreas Beck (right-back / 4), Markus Babbel (central defense / 2), Michael Langer (goal / 1), Bernd Nehrig (midfield / 1) and Silvio Meissner (midfield / 1).
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Trainer: ARMIN VEH – The master maker! Had only taken over for Mister Trapattoni in February 2006 and was still ninth. Then he delivered his masterpiece. It almost went with the double (2: 3 nV in the cup final against Nürnberg).
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And this is how it was played: Veh bet on a classic 4-4-2 with a diamond, in the second half of the season he often attacked 4-3-3. Only one team scored more goals than Stuttgart (61).
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The title remained unique: Although VfB strengthened in the summer of 2007 with Raphael Schäfer, Ciprian Marica and Yildiray Bastürk, it was no longer possible to compete for the title. Now VfB is playing in league two – where’s the time left?
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Gomez missed the 2014 World Cup triumph
His career in the national team was not quite as successful. Although Gomez scored 31 goals in 78 international matches and took part in two world and three European championships, Jogi Löw decided not to use Gomez for the 2014 World Cup triumph, because he had previously been out of action for almost seven months due to a knee injury.
“His career was characterized by ups and downs. But over the years he has learned to deal with both extremes and find his balance, to find his middle,” said the national coach of the image . “For Mario, I have only praise words, I have huge respect for him, as a person and as an athlete.”
Even after returning to Stuttgart from Wolfsburg at the end of 2017, things were not going well for the aging striker, who initially relegated from the Bundesliga with the Swabians in 2019 and was only a second choice this season.
After all, VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo gave the identification figure a guarantee for Sunday: “It is our responsibility to give him a well-deserved goodbye. We want to feed him a lot in the penalty area and play a lot so that he can score.”
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