“Packed a few things in the car”
Hummels remembers his BVB beginnings for the record
October 8, 2023, 9:45 a.m
In 2008, Mats Hummels played for Borussia Dortmund for the first time. What began with a lot of uncertainty as a Bayern player who had just been sorted out developed into a real success story. He is now the BVB professional with the most wins. He is proudly making his comeback with the DFB.
Mats Hummels looked at his bandaged thigh again, but the pain didn’t take away his pride. The 2014 world champion celebrated 207 Bundesliga victories with Borussia Dortmund – he has now left behind Michael Zorc, an icon of the club, as the sole number one in the club rankings.
“This is one thing I didn’t expect when I packed a few things in the car and drove up here in January 2008,” said the returnee to the national team in an interview with Sky: “Now you’re standing there, 15 years later . Great story.” Zorc also needed 463 games for his 206 wins, while Hummels now has 207 in just 348.
The record, the 4:2 (1:2) against Union Berlin and the national team nomination after a long break: Hummels had every reason to be happy. “Everyone knew what a big goal it was for me to get back into the national team,” said the 34-year-old.
“Greatest honor in football”
Even his thigh won’t stop him on his upcoming trip to the USA; the team will start at the airport on Monday. “I just sprained my muscle a bit,” reported Hummels. He had to be substituted in the 73rd minute. Coach Edin Terzic explained that the substitution was “not a precautionary measure”: “He has already signaled that he can no longer play. We just hope that it is nothing serious and that he can make the trip and play twice.”
The 2014 world champion has been nominated for the national team for the first time in more than two years. “I love playing for my country. It’s the greatest honor in football.” He will definitely accept the leadership role that the new national coach Julian Nagelsmann has intended for him, “regardless of whether I’m on the pitch or not. We have a lot of good central defenders. It may very well be that I’m not always there “I’ll play at the beginning. Then I’ll take on the role, like I did here when I was on the bench for seven, eight, nine games.”
His goal is: “I want us to be successful. I want us to win. I want the German national team to be what it was many, many years ago. One of the best in the world. And I believe that the team is good enough to be that again.”