Philipp Lahm is a German footballer who plays as a center midfielder / wing-back for the German club Bayern Munich and the German national team. In both teams, Philip is the captain and the clear leader. Philip Lahm is one of the most experienced players in the German Bayern Munich, having joined the team back in the early 2000s and saw the club change several generations of players. Lam has been playing for the German national team since 1999, but only made it to the main team in 2004; today Philip is the mainstay German team participating both in team attacks and settling in defense; under his leadership, the German national team advanced to the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where they stole the victory from the Argentina national team - 1: 0.

A fan favorite, Lam over the years professional game became the owner of a huge number of nicknames, most of which one way or another indicated his small stature, tenacity and speed: "Mighty Ant", "Magic Dwarf" and the most popular - "Lami".

During his career, Lam has won the German Bundesliga 6 times, the DFB-Pokal 6 times and the DFL-Supercup once. In 2013, the footballer, together with the team, became the winner of the Champions League (UEFA Champions League), the Club World Cup and the owner of the UEFA Super Cup. During his career, Philip entered the field more than 530 times.

Philip Lam was born on November 11, 1983 in Munich, Germany (Munich, Germany). A fan of the main city club "Bayern Munich", he has played football since childhood, but over time it became noticeable that Philip's level had long gone away from the amateur game of his peers. Since 1995, Lam began training at the Bayern Munich academy, as well as playing for the club's youth teams. As a teenager, he gained fame as a talented football player who should replace veterans German football... So, for example, the father of his future teammate, Hermann Hummels, who has worked for a long time with the young talents of the Munich club, once said: “If Philippe Lam does not end up in the Bundesliga, then no other footballer has a chance ".

But Lam, of course, ended up in the Bundesliga. For two seasons, he played for the second squad of his alma mater, and in 2002 he first appeared on the field in the colors of the main squad. This day, as Philip recalled, was one of the better days in his life.

In 2003, the player was loaned to the VfB Stuttgart team, where he had to gain experience, but he returned to the Bayern camp. Lam was not just a new player - he returned future star club. Interestingly, during his long career in the team, Lam rarely distinguished himself with beautiful goals or incredible passes, but his work on the field was almost always flawless, and therefore, during the first seasons, the young pupil of the club became a favorite of the fans and a partner. coaching staff on the field - it was he who was the organizer of most of the team's attacks, and he also had to meet the rivals with his chest.

In 2011, Lam became the captain of Bayern Munich, after which the club's game improved dramatically: for example, the following seasons - 2012, 2013 and 2014 - are perhaps the best in the history of the club. In 2013, thanks to Lam's efforts, the team reached the Champions League final and added their name to the best clubs planet, in the same season the player's home club became the winner of the Club World Championship.

Lam played his first match in the form of the German national team in 1999. Since then, he has become a permanent member of the youth teams, and in 2004 he joined the main team. The biggest achievement on the world stage, of course, was the victory in the World Cup in Brazil in 2014; v final match Germans in additional time defeated the national team of Argentina. Despite the largest number of matches in the national team - 113, - Lam has scored goals only 5 times, last time in 2012. However, it is through him that most of the attacks of the German national team pass, and it is he who often becomes the author of the assists.

Best of the day

I am Odessa! I'm from Odessa! Hello! ..

But the level of German basketball, frankly, leaves much to be desired, which is why Philip gradually became interested in football. From a young age he was a fan of Bayern Munich, and soon he was lucky enough to get to the Olympic Stadium.

2006

↓

Philip Lam was born on November 11 1983 years in Munich. As a child, the child was very fond of basketball and wanted to be like "his air" Michael. But the level of German basketball, frankly, leaves much to be desired, which is why Philip gradually became interested in football. From a young age he was a fan of Bayern Munich, and soon he was lucky enough to get to the Olympic Stadium.

Lam - "flesh of the flesh" of Munich "Bavaria" and the "wings" of the national team. A great player with all the qualities modern footballer extra-class. A native of Munich, a native of sports family, he began to study football skills in the team of the regional sports club "Gern", where his mother was in charge of the youth department.

When the guy's talent became apparent, he was invited to the academy of “Bayern”, which he successfully graduated. The guy would have played for another five years for the double “Lederhosen”, at best from time to time spending a season or two somewhere on loan, if not for Felix Magath, the then coach of “Stuttgart”.

Herr coach was just forming the "Shvabs" lineup from promising talented youth, and once turned to his old friend, and part-time mentor youth team“Bavaria” Hermann Gerland with a question about capable youths who are now ready to fight in big football.

We must pay tribute to Lederhosen, whose management did not sell the junior, limiting itself to a two-year lease of Lam. In “Stuttgart,” Philip did not just play, but became one of the stars. It is not surprising that Magat, being invited to the coaching bridge in “Bayern”, without hesitation took with him one of his favorites.

The "returnee" Lam immediately "staked out" for himself the left edge, sending the ageless Lizaraz to retirement. For Philip, who, according to the assurances of his family and friends in ordinary life, is simply "darling, good friend and a sincere guy ", everything worked out in the Bundestim. Before the start of the Mundialya- 2006 Lam injured his elbow and was forced to miss the start of the preparation of the national team for the World Cup, but the national team's coaches immediately announced that they believed in Phil and were not going to look for a replacement for him. "We will wait as long as necessary.

Lam is a real modern defender - aggressive, mobile, thinking. "After such support, the player quickly recovered and with a miracle goal against Costa Rica in the first match of the Mundial thanked everyone who believed in him. And at the end of the championship Lam became one of the most tidbits of the global transfer market.

But Philip stayed at Bayern to eventually become one of the leaders. For example, in the season 2006 /2007 Lam played 34 matches in the Bundesliga and nine more in the Champions League, while he was only changed twice. The next season, another young and very talented German lateral, Marcel Jansen, moved to the “Bavaria”, tending to play on the left flank. The lama was transferred to the right (he himself admitted more than once that he likes to "plow" the right edge more). However, after injuries to Jansen, Willie Sagnol and Lam himself, the rotokhoz coach's cards turned out to be confused, so Philip had to play on the left flank.

Summer 2008 th year Lam almost ended up in Barcelona, ​​but quite unexpectedly for many he extended his contract with Bayern Munich until June 20 2012 years, deciding that "they are not looking for good from good." Lam scored 4 goals for Bayern that season, his best result in a season.

With the arrival in 2009 year in "Die Roten" Louis van Gaal Lam from despair "donkey" on the right edge, where he played well with Arjen Robben. As a result, Lam made 12 assists, which helped his club win the championship title and the German Cup. In the same season, Lam in the “Bavaria” won the silver medal in the Champions League.

Summer 2010 of the year as part of the German national team Lam went to the World Cup 2010 , where instead of the injured Michael Ballack was the captain of the Bundestim. At the tournament, the German national team won third place.

After leaving Bayern Munich by Mark van Bommel in January 2011 years, Lam became the team captain.

The following season, Lam in the Bayern Munich again reached the Champions League final, and again the Germans got only second place.

In the season 2012 /2013 Bayern were finally able to win the Champions League and Lam, as captain, was the first to lift the winners' trophy. In the same season, in the “Bavaria” Lam became the champion of Germany and the winner of the German Cup.

At the beginning of the season 2013 /2014 After coach Josep Guardiola joined the team, Lam began playing as a defensive midfielder. Under Guardiola, Bayern Munich again won the German Cup and the Bundesliga, and won the Club World Cup. Champions League 2013 /2014 Bayern have reached the semifinals.

V Everyday life does charity work - in the summer 2007 For a year, together with Piotr Trochowski, he visited South Africa, where he was engaged in matters related to the popularization of German football. At the same time, I did not forget to participate in such projects as "Kick-AIDS event".

Supports the AIDS Foundation, annually donates substantial funds to the foundation of an organization that opposes child abuse.

Philip Lam's trophies and achievements are hard to count, and his role at Bayern and - until recently - in the German national team cannot be overemphasized. UEFA.com pays tribute to the UEFA Champions League winner and the current champion world, which made its 500th appearance for Bayern Munich and then announced his retirement at the end of the season.

They talk about him
“One of the reasons for my stay at Bayern was my personal relationship with Philip Lam, he helped me a lot from the very beginning. high level... I have not seen a bad match in his performance. He will always have a special place in my life, he is a true legend. Philip Lam is the most smart football player whom I have ever trained. "
Josep Guardiola, former FC Bayern coach

"Philip is the ideal professional who will sacrifice everything for success. He has always been an important figure for me when discussing ideas. For more than ten years he has provided stability, reliability and the highest standards in the team. He has an innate authority, a willingness to take responsibility, excellent communication skills. and leadership qualities. "
Germany coach Joachim Loew

© Getty Images

"One of his former coaches said that Philip started playing football while still in my womb. He learned to walk in one year and was always with a soft ball at his feet. With a soft one - because otherwise I would have smashed everything around! Sometimes we went to Gern's matches where his father and uncle played so he could watch and play on the sidelines himself. Philip was five years old when the coach told him to pack and come to the team! "
Philip Lama's mom Daniela

Statistics
Germany squad: 113 appearances, 5 goals
European Cups: 128 appearances, 3 goals
Domestic competition: 441 appearances, 17 goals

The path to glory
Bayern Munich
The Munich native started playing for the Gern district team. At the age of 12, he received offers from Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich - he chose the first club, because there he was allowed to serve balls in the first team matches.

With Bayern Munich, he won two national 19-year-olds, followed by seven German titles.

© Getty Images

You can write a separate book about its versatility. When Lam came to Stuttgart on loan in 2003, Felix Magath made him the country's leading left-back. It was in this position that he showed himself in the national team and “Bavaria”. Subsequently, he expressed a desire to play on the right edge - where he is still acting. During the Guardiola era, Lam turned out to be an excellent midfielder as well.

Germany squad
In the first match of the 2006 World Cup he scored in the sixth minute. “The ball had to go exactly to that point, - he recalled. - Probably, it was the goal of my whole life.” However, Lam scored the main goal in his career two years later. last minute EURO 2008 against Turkey.

Since 2006, he was included in the symbolic teams in all five major tournaments, in which he participated: World Cup 2006, World Cup 2010, and World Cup 2014.

For many years, one of the main tormentors of the Lama was Fernando Torres. Their first confrontation took place in 2002 when Torres scored winning goal Spaniards in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Six years later, they met in a similar match at the senior level. In the UEFA EURO 2008 final, El Niño overtook Lama to send the decisive goal against Jens Lehmann -. Subsequently, Torres beat the German in the 2010 World Cup semi-finals, the 2011/12 Champions League final and the 2014/15 Champions League semi-final.

© Getty Images

Lama's gentlemanly character is best expressed in his words after the 7-1 defeat of the Brazilians in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals. "An oppressive sensation," he admitted. "Nobody usually wants the enemy to make such gross mistakes, at our level this rarely happens."

What You May Not Know
Lam has established a foundation in his own name, which focuses primarily on improving life in South Africa through football. In 2008, he helped found a club near Johannesburg. His foundation regularly hosts events and tournaments on the basis.

In the case of Lam, it is difficult to find negative statistics, but one fact is still there. He suffered seven defeats against perennial rivals from Borussia Dortmund - an anti-record for Bayern players.

Lam became the youngest Bundesteam captain at the World Championships. In 2010 in South Africa, he took over the bandage from the injured Michael Ballack when he was only 26 years old.

Sign in to watch the best moments

He says
“The pressure was incredibly high. I hadn’t come across anything like this before. The feeling, of course, is great, to be sure. Moreover, a year before that we were very close to the trophy and lost in the home final on penalties. At the beginning of the meeting, the team was under tremendous pressure, because everyone knew that it would be even harder to lose the third final. The pressure was incredible. "
After at Wembley in the 2012/13 Champions League final

"I am still young and have not achieved anything yet. I have a lot to learn."
From a 2004 interview

“No matter what happens in the future, I can always remember with pleasure my career, which I think was successful. Of course, I would like to win the Champions League again.
Reflections on a career coming to an end

"It has always been a joy for me to be a conductor of coaching ideas and participate in shaping the style of my teams. Whether on the field, in training or in discussions with players and coaches. The captain's armband is the best evidence that this is the right approach."
From the biography of Lama

“Today, a professional footballer must be sociable. Otherwise, he will be isolated from the team and will not be successful. good player it takes talent, ambition, discipline and social competence. "
© Bongarts

What else can it achieve
May become Bayern's most titled player in the Bundesliga. Lam, with seven championship titles, is one behind Kahn, Mehmet Scholl and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

First goal in the Champions League! Yes, Lam still hasn't scored it, although he has already had 109 meetings in the main draw. This is among the players who have not yet scored in the Champions League. What could be better than opening a goal score on the way to the second title ?!

And I'll explain why. You won't write here curriculum vitae, because even Lama's stage in the German national team can take several dozen pages of text - these were busy years, years of the road to triumph. You can't write a laudatory ode here, because it's strange to write a farewell song to a person who will play at least another five years at the club level.

This is in Colombia, almost with grandchildren in huge goalkeeper's hands, and the 38-year-old Mario Yepes debuts at the World Championships. In England, this is almost all that the national team will create, still depends (but, perhaps, already "depended") on the 34-year-old Stephen Gerrard and 36-year-old Frank Lampard... Harsh and calculating Germans know how to choose a place and time. Bombardier of all time Gerd Müller finished international career at the age of 29. He finished it in the same way as Lam - winning the world championship. This was in 1974.

Since we started talking about the 1974 World Cup, then there was such a young boy at the Nationalmannschaft on the left in the defense, stocky, bearded with a stern expression on his face. His name was Paul Breitner... When Fipsi scored a crazy goal for Costa Rica in his first World Cup, he was invariably compared to Breitner: finally, they say, there is a left-back who can effectively go on the attack and not lose himself on the defensive! Who knew then that in eight years he would change two more positions in the national team?

Where Lam and Breitner are exactly alike is their personal originality. There have always been controversies and scandals around these guys. After publishing his book four years ago, Lam said: “I say what I think and see. That's all". And Lam saw how Michael Ballack breaks down on Davide Odonkore(so that after that the poor fellow's career flew into the trash can), the same Ballack and Thorsten Frings pressure on Yogi Loew, and instead of training in the national team Rudy Föller players lazily played video games. The team of Breitner's times also amused themselves as best they could: instead of video games, there were alcohol and girls, and instead of the informer Philip Lam, there was an informer Tony Schumacher, another famous German akyn.

Lam eventually followed the path of Breitner, who also came to a place in midfield. First, there was the dilemma "Lam - left-back or right-back?" However, in the last year, another dilemma has arisen - "Is Lam a right-back or a defensive midfielder?"

The Bundestrener froze in even greater indecision, but the injury of the football player, who was not supposed to go to the World Cup, Shkodrana Mustafi, helped the German national team - Fipsi returned to the right edge of the defense. Everyone thought that Lam was going from the bottom up - from defense to midfield, but in fact he was returning to the top, because as a child, Philip Lam was used in the position of the classic top ten.

He always says what he thinks and does what he thinks is right. He was always part of a group of players who approve bonuses from their superiors for the victories of the national team, but money for him was not of paramount importance. It was he who told Michael Ballack that after an injury he could no longer rely on the captain's bandage anymore, it was funny stories about him that were composed on humorous sites - like the one where Lam was allegedly a member of a group of rockers-mafiosi all his adult life. If he was born in Russia, he would certainly become Igor Denisov... But he was born in Munich.

Well, the fact that his departure was unexpected ... Look, in four years he will be 34, this is a respectable age for both the full-back and the defender. Yes, there will be a European Championship, but this tournament is slowly depreciating - if only by the fact that soon only the national teams of Gibraltar, Malta and San Marino will not be able to get into it (the Faroe Islands will beat Liechtenstein at the joints). Having reasoned wisely (and Lam obviously made the decision not after a dozen hours of flight from Rio to Berlin), the captain of the German national team decided that he had enough. He did not want to wait for the conventional Marco Reyce to come up and say: "The bandage is mine now," as he once did himself. He did what all Germany raved about eight recent years, since that very goal of his to Costa Rica. He brought the World Cup to the Brandenburg Gate.

It is somehow customary to consider Philip Lama young and talented; meanwhile, the "magic dwarf" is already thirty years old. It may be that the Brazilian world championship is the last in the career of this magnificent footballer, who became the captain of the German national team a very long time ago, since Kevin-Prince Boateng injured Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final. Short, but impetuous and unstoppable, as well as a tireless and incomprehensible thunderbolt, capable of playing on both the right and left flanks. Moreover, regardless of what edge Philip "plows" in this season, there is no doubt that he will remain one of the best in the world in his position. Lama's leadership qualities are also okay. He knows the value of himself, deed and word. Lam allows himself to criticize the leadership of “Bavaria”, upset teammates and holds iron discipline in the national team. About Lama one can say "small spool, but expensive" - ​​it is the short footballer who personifies in the German national team the qualities for which it was once famous: iron will and character.

Philip is hard to find in the game weak spots... Yes, for obvious reasons, he plays poorly with his head. But his speed is still great. Even Ronaldo is catching up. The Lam has a cannon strike, and besides, it is universal. Last season, by the will of Josep Guardiola, he began to play as a defensive / central midfielder, quickly mastering a new role. Lampard and Xavi consider Philip as a midfielder not much worse than the Llama. We will not argue with honored people, but Lam still brings the greatest benefit precisely on the flank. Although the discovery of Guardiola could not fail to please Joachim Loew.

Lam - "flesh of the flesh" of Munich "Bavaria" and the "wings" of the national team. An excellent player with all the qualities of a modern top-class footballer. A native of Munich, a native of a sports family, he began to study football skills in the team of the regional sports club "Gern", where his mother was in charge of the youth department. When the guy's talent became apparent, he was invited to the academy of “Bayern”, which he successfully graduated. The guy would have played for another five years for the double “Lederhosen”, at best from time to time spending a season or two somewhere on loan, if not for Felix Magath, the then coach of “Stuttgart”. Herr coach was just forming the composition of the “Schwabs” from promising talented youth, and once turned to his old friend, and part-time mentor of the youth team of “Bavaria” Herman Gerland with a question about capable youths who are now ready to fight in big football. It is worth paying tribute to Lederhosen, whose management did not sell the junior, limiting itself to a two-year lease of Lam. In “Stuttgart,” Philip did not just play, but became one of the stars. It is not surprising that Magat, being invited to the coaching bridge in “Bayern”, without hesitation took with him one of his favorites. The "returnee" Lam immediately "staked out" for himself the left edge, sending the ageless Lizaraz to retirement. For Philip, who according to the assurances of his family and friends in ordinary life is just a "darling, a good friend and a sincere guy", everything worked out in the Bundestim. Before the start of the 2006 World Cup, Lam injured his elbow and was forced to miss the start of the preparation of the national team for the World Cup, but the national team's trainers immediately announced that they believed in Phil and were not going to look for a replacement for him. "We will wait as long as necessary. Lam is a real modern defender - aggressive, mobile, thinking." After such support, the player quickly recovered and with a miracle goal against Costa Rica in the very first match of the Mundial, he thanked everyone who believed in him. And at the end of the championship, Lam became one of the tidbits of the global transfer market.

But Philip stayed at Bayern to eventually become one of the leaders. For example, in the 2006/2007 season, Lam played 34 matches in the Bundesliga and nine more in the Champions League, while he was changed only twice. The next season, another young and very talented German lateral, Marcel Jansen, moved to the “Bavaria”, tending to play on the left flank. The lama was transferred to the right (he himself admitted more than once that he likes to "plow" the right edge more). However, after injuries to Jansen, Willie Sagnol and Lam himself, the rotokhoz coach's cards turned out to be confused, so Philip had to play on the left flank.

In the summer of 2008, Lam almost ended up in Barcelona, ​​but quite unexpectedly for many, he extended his contract with Bayern Munich until June 20, 2012, deciding that "they are not looking for good." With the arrival of Louis van Gaal in "Die Roten" from despair, he "donkey" on the right edge, because the Dutch specialist's stake on Goerlitz did not justify itself. At the 2010 World Cup after the injury of Michael Ballack, who received before the start of the Mundial severe injury, became the captain of the Bundesteam.

Lam is a tenacious and fast full-back with excellent game reading. A versatile person, he can play equally well on any of the flanks. Unyielding, possesses the most powerful blow on both legs. A strong-willed player, a born leader. In everyday life, he is involved in charity work - in the summer of 2007, together with Piotr Trochowski, he visited South Africa, where he was engaged in matters related to the popularization of German football. At the same time, I did not forget to participate in such projects as "Kick-AIDS event". Supports the AIDS Foundation, annually donates substantial funds to the foundation of an organization that opposes child abuse.

Philip always has his own opinion, which he does not hesitate to express. For example, in November 2009, in an interview with a German newspaper, the player criticized the club's management for the lack of "strategic development planning". The attitude of the club management, media and fans to this interview turned out to be different, although many praised Philip for his honesty. Of course, he retained his place in the starting lineup of “Bavaria”.