Thomas Müller Brings World-Class Experience to Vancouver Whitecaps
Photo Credit: MLS
The Vancouver Whitecaps signed German soccer legend Thomas Müller in early August. Over his career, Müller led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, where he scored five goals. He also won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with five goals and three assists. Müller has won 33 trophies, 13 Bundesliga titles, and two Champions League titles with Bayern Munich.
On Aug. 14, Müller revealed at a press conference why he chose Vancouver. “It was time for an adventure, but an adventure for me is only interesting when I have the chance to go for titles,” he shared. He was completely at ease, cracking jokes and showing a genuine eagerness to bond with his new team.
During the German star’s Vancouver debut, BC Place buzzed with excitement. Vancouver faced the Houston Dynamo, and Müller subbed on in the 61st minute and struck a goal from way outside the box.
After the game, Müller said, “I think the moment when I scored the goal was amazing, the noise in the stadium and then also the reaction of my teammates made it a great start for me. In the end, the result was a little bit disappointing. But that is the game.”
During the last few months that Müller played with the Whitecaps, he took part in seven MLS regular-season games, one Canadian Championship game, and two games in the MLS playoffs. He contributed nine goals and four assists this season, and his presence helped the team win the Western Conference Finals against San Diego.
This transfer boosted the team’s strength and popularity, bringing more excitement to soccer in Vancouver and leading to tickets and jersey sales skyrocketing. The match against LAFC set an MLS-era attendance record with 53,957 fans. On Nov. 22, the Whitecaps faced LAFC in a tense conference semifinal. The Whitecaps opened with two early goals before LAFC equalized the game, forcing extra time. Down two players, Vancouver held on and advanced after winning a penalty shootout.
This result highlighted the growing chemistry within the team, shown in how well the players worked together in the field. Vancouver fans hope that he will help bring home more titles.
On Dec. 6, the Whitecaps played against Inter Miami CF in the MLS Cup Final. Many people considered the game as Messi against Müller rather than Miami against Vancouver. The Whitecaps were unable to secure the win and lost 3-1. After the game, Müller said they gave their all, but it wasn't enough. The match marked the end of his first MLS season. Müller shared his excitement for the next season, and he strongly believes the team will come back stronger.